Witch Hunt

In describing the status of cyclist Lance Armstrong, reporter Jill Rosen somehow managed to turn from straight reportage to editorializing ("To host Lance Armstrong, triathlon drops sanctioning," Sept. 21). Mr. Armstrong has not been proven guilty of anything and has been pursued by the several anti-doping authorities for most of his career. I can only assume that he finally gave up fighting the USADA's most recent attacks because he was worn out after all of this fighting - or maybe it was just the continuing financial cost of defending himself.

In describing the status of cyclist Lance Armstrong, reporter Jill Rosen somehow managed to turn from straight reportage to editorializing ("To host Lance Armstrong, triathlon drops sanctioning," Sept. 21). Mr. Armstrong has not been proven guilty of anything and has been pursued by the several anti-doping authorities for most of his career. I can only assume that he finally gave up fighting the USADA's most recent attacks because he was worn out after all of this fighting - or maybe it was just the continuing financial cost of defending himself.

Congress is setting itself up for another fall by attempting to tap the telephone secrets of reporters who broke the story of Anita Hill's charges of sexual harassment against Judge Clarence Thomas.Reporters Nina Totenberg of National Public Radio and Timothy M. Phelps of Newsday, who first publicized Ms. Hill's charges, have both told Senate investigators they won't name their sources. To do so, they claim, would undercut their ability to gather news from informants who do not wish their identity made public.

How is it that The Sun is calling for scrutiny and transparency in government for Baltimore City ("Ducking scrutiny," July 1) yet not for the Obama Administration, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice for document production and investigation into Fast & Furious? According to The Sun that's just a witch hunt and Republican grandstanding. J. Shawn Alcarese, Towson

A teacher charged with having sex with a student at Glen Burnie Senior High School in 1976 is the victim of a witch hunt, his attorney told an Anne Arundel Circuit Court jury yesterday."

Speaking for the first time since a city agency received a subpoena and the offices of a prominent Baltimore developer were raided, Mayor Sheila Dixon characterized the investigation by state prosecutors yesterday as a witch hunt. Dixon, who said she has done nothing wrong and who argued she did not know what the Maryland state prosecutor's office is looking into, said she is cooperating with investigators but believes the probe could be politically motivated. "What would help me is if you go to the state's [prosecutors]

Friends and supporters of Dunbar High School coach Pete Pompey became more vocal yesterday, saying that the recent probe into alleged mishandling of athletic department funds is part of a witch hunt intended to remove the coach from his high-profile position.Those supporters say they have collected between 500 and 800 signatures on petitions of support for Pompey, the target of the investigation that is believed to be related to the school's operation of a concession stand at Oriole Park.

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary William S. Cohen denied suggestions yesterday that the Pentagon was on a "witch hunt" for sexual improprieties among senior officers, one day after the commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground decided to retire over an affair he had five years ago while separated from his wife."

THE WITCH HUNT is on.If you gave money to the Democratic National Committee last year, and you happen to be an Asian-American, you'd better have a good reason.Saying that you believe in the American system, apple pie as well as kimchi, doesn't cut it.Saying that you just wanted to support your favorite candidate, felt a mad compulsion toward civic involvement and had a little extra cash won't save your butt this time.You're an Asian-American in the era of John Huang, James Riady and the Lippo Group.

Political consultant Julius Henson, who wrote the 2010 Election Day robocall that prosecutors said was designed to suppress black votes, was led from a Baltimore courthouse in handcuffs Wednesday after being sentenced to 60 days in jail. Baltimore Circuit Judge Emanuel Brown also ordered Henson, 63, to complete 300 hours of community service. Brown announced his sentence after listening to Henson cast himself as a victim in his final remarks to the court. "The state has a problem with the First Amendment.

Political consultant Julius Henson, who wrote the 2010 Election Day robocall that prosecutors said was designed to suppress black votes, was led from a Baltimore courthouse in handcuffs Wednesday after being sentenced to 60 days in jail. Baltimore Circuit Judge Emanuel Brown also ordered Henson, 63, to complete 300 hours of community service. Brown announced his sentence after listening to Henson cast himself as a victim in his final remarks to the court. "The state has a problem with the First Amendment.

In October, protesters against genetically modified foods marched through Baltimore on their way to Washington. Their goal is to make Congress require that all genetically modified foods be labeled as such, but the effect will to spread superstition rather than increase awareness about these products. The witch hunt against genetically modified foods has been gaining traction. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 93 percent of the soybeans and 86 percent of the corn grown in the U.S. in 2009 were genetically modified crops.

When Dr. Mark G. Midei, who's accused of placing cardiac stents into patients who didn't need them, allowed stent maker Abbott Laboratories to throw parties at his Monkton home and accepted thousands in consulting fees, it was business as usual for the medical profession, his attorney said Friday. "All of these events were legal; they were done uniformly by all practitioners," said lawyer Stephen L. Snyder, adding that "this is the way it's done" between product sales people and doctors.

Speaking for the first time since a city agency received a subpoena and the offices of a prominent Baltimore developer were raided, Mayor Sheila Dixon characterized the investigation by state prosecutors yesterday as a witch hunt. Dixon, who said she has done nothing wrong and who argued she did not know what the Maryland state prosecutor's office is looking into, said she is cooperating with investigators but believes the probe could be politically motivated. "What would help me is if you go to the state's [prosecutors]

BOSTON -- The Orioles closed this season much as they did the previous one, with a disappointing record on the field and drug allegations hanging over the clubhouse. Last year, it was Rafael Palmeiro, the first prominent major leaguer to test positive for anabolic steroids. This year, three pillars of the team - shortstop Miguel Tejada, second baseman Brian Roberts and outfielder Jay Gibbons - stand accused of taking steroids by former teammate Jason Grimsley. Their names became public in a Los Angeles Times report yesterday that also listed Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte as players linked to performance enhancers in the affidavit Grimsley gave to federal agents this spring.

The Columbia Association has suspended a member from its board of directors, and must determine whether he behaved improperly and whether he should be kicked off the board. In a Jan. 24 meeting closed to the public, the board accused David Hlass, who was elected to represent Long Reach village, of sharing confidential information with village members about the salaries and bonuses of CA's top officials. Among other charges, the board also alleged that he violated conflict-of-interest rules by soliciting business from CA, which he oversees as a board member.

How is it that The Sun is calling for scrutiny and transparency in government for Baltimore City ("Ducking scrutiny," July 1) yet not for the Obama Administration, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice for document production and investigation into Fast & Furious? According to The Sun that's just a witch hunt and Republican grandstanding. J. Shawn Alcarese, Towson

Chicago. -- In the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy's followers resented having his attack on elusive Communists in government called a witch hunt. When Arthur Miller wrote his play ''The Crucible,'' equating Eisenhower's America and 17th-century Salem, McCarthyites felt wronged. They were not conducting a witch hunt, they claimed.But when modern evangelicals attack feminists, they are not anxious to dispel the witch-hunt claim. That, in literal fact, is what they are pursuing. Most of them are not ashamed to say so.Even the vice president's wife told us, in her Houston speech, that feminists are trying to deny ''the essential nature of women.

The state elections board deliberated behind closed doors for 7 1/2 hours yesterday on the fate of Maryland elections chief Linda H. Lamone, but the board's chairman declined to say if the board had decided to fire her. "It will come in a press statement [Friday]," board Chairman Gilles W. Burger said as the meeting ended. Other board members filed out, giving a terse "no comment." The board is believed to be waiting to publicly announce its decision until after it has an opportunity to inform Lamone.

A state elections board controlled by appointees of Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. plans to meet behind closed doors today, apparently to consider firing Maryland elections chief Linda H. Lamone. Democratic legislative leaders said yesterday that it made no sense to oust Lamone two months from Election Day. "It seems to me that you would want to have all the experienced, first-line people in place and not be making drastic changes," said Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr., an Anne Arundel County Democrat.