Paul Quinn on Hal Neilson arraignment and whistleblower allegations
The photo above, by Eli Williams for the Oxford Enterprise, of Hal Neilson leaving his arraignment.
Paul Quinn has a story about the Hal Neilson arraignment in yesterday’s Oxford Enterprise and the reports about whether or not he was a whistleblower. Paul has talked to a lot of different camps– defense lawyers from the Scruggs case, folks inside the US attorneys office, etc., and has lots of interesting (if inconclusive) datapoints.
The story is on the Oxford Enterprise website (no permalinks, so it will be gone on Sunday next), which on my browser (Firefox on a Mac) comes up looking very strange. Looks ok in Safari. Anyhow, here’s the story:
The case surrounding FBI agent Phillip Halbert “Hal” Neilson is shaping up to be a politically charged one, as allegations fly about a troubled relationship between Neilson and recently retired U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee that had gone on for years in the Northern District of Mississippi.
Neilson pleaded not guilty Monday to a five-count indictment alleging that he concealed his ownership in the FBI building that he supervised and lied on financial disclosure documents he was required to fill out yearly. There wasn’t an empty seat in the small courtroom on the second floor of the U.S. District Courthouse.
Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander set a $5,000 bond and required Neilson to turn over his passport. She also set a trial date for March 8 with a plea agreement deadline on Feb. 22.
Neilson left the courthouse swiftly Monday without making any statement to the media. His lawyer, Ken Coghlan, didn’t have a comment.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Baton Rouge office told the judge at the hearing that they had discovery ready to turn over to Neilson’s defense, but they would not comment to the press after the hearing.
Days before the arraignment, a story in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal described e-mails Neilson sent to members of the Mississippi congressional delegation, saying he felt Greenlee was out to get him.
The Oxford Enterprise could not obtain the e-mails. U.S. District 1 Rep. Travis Childers’ press spokeswoman said, “Sorry, I can’t discuss the content of constituent mail.”
The Daily Journal article said the e-mails were not supplied by Neilson. The e-mails were reportedly sent to congressional members only months ago, after Neilson learned he was under investigation for his alleged secret ownership in the FBI building.
Neilson claims, according to The Daily Journal, that he came under attack after seeking whistle-blower protection from Greenlee. Neilson said he believed that Greenlee illegally targeted people with Muslim sounding names in the so-called Convenience Store Initiative, which began as an investigation into possible terrorist activities but became a major drug case instead.
Knowledgeable sources have told The Oxford Enterprise that there were some disagreements between Neilson and the U.S. Attorney’s office, but, when Neilson sought whistle-blower protection, they were “shocked” by his complaints. One veteran prosecutor said there was no merit to Neilson’s claims.
In Neilson’s e-mail to the delegation, he claims it was after he sought whistle-blower protection that he started to be excluded from cases — including the judicial bribery scandal surrounding Dickie Scruggs.
However, multiple people who worked on the Scruggs investigation told The Oxford Enterprise that they were worried Nielson was a leak to the media. They feared Scruggs would catch wind of the investigation before they had all the evidence they needed to get convictions.
At least one lawyer who worked for a Scruggs defendant claimed Neilson leaked information to The Clarion-Ledger about his client after the indictments against Scruggs were unsealed. This lawyer said he doesn’t buy Neilson’s argument that Greenlee is out to get him and that he is simply blowing smoke.
But another attorney who worked for a defendant in a case Neilson raised issues over said he thought there was a political aspect to his client’s prosecution and that Neilson may have been on to something.
All the people who spoke to The Oxford Enterprise asked to remain anonymous.
Sources also say that Neilson’s part ownership of the FBI building was discovered after a local contractor tipped off the U.S. Attorney’s office. U.S. Attorneys thought there was a possible ethical violation and reported the information to the U.S. Inspector General’s Office, which determined it was a criminal matter and assigned the case to the Baton Rouge prosecutors.Greenlee’s office was recused from the case because Neilson still had to work with federal attorneys here even while he was being investigated.
A call to Greenlee’s home for comments was not returned. But Greenlee, in an interview published two weeks ago in The Enterprise, said his office did nothing wrong in the Convenience Store Initiative. “This office has always done what it’s supposed to do for the right reasons,” he said.
Neilson also reportedly e-mailed the congressional delegation that he was removed from the Mississippi Beef Processors Plant investigation after one year. According to the Daily Journal, Greenlee thought the case was at a standstill when Neilson was in charge. In his e-mail, Neilson said any hold-up was because Greenlee was trying to steer the case.
Didn’t the MS. branch of the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. run it’s major black op’s from this building? “Reports wheather or not he was a whistleblower” Like to say, he could be? Man, that pot of beans been cooking so long. Me thinks the targeting of Scruggs and others for political aspects are known to Hal aren’t they. Can Greenlee being retired see anything driving from the back seat? There’s enough players in this one, thus the need to steer”away from Justice that is”. The terrorist investigation turned into a major drug case. It didn’t have to do with Hal’s building did it? There’s likely a connection by the Louisiana prosecutor to do some steering of his own. Just guessing, it’s still politics as usaual. Here’s to hoping Hal sings a song of freedom. It would add to the drama. Ma Wae.
Who is the local contractor that caused this investigation? How did he know about the secret partnership? http://rrracket.blogspot.com/2010/02/who-is-this-contractor.html This Ndrama needs to be probed by the DOJ at the national level.
Rove, anyone with internet can check the Secretary of State’s business partnership filings which lists all of Mr. Neilson’s formal business relations. Why did Neilson do it? I cannot figure it out…unless he was part of a deep, quasi-official black op or conspiracy. Great photo by Eli Williams.
Actually, the Secretary of State’s records are very limited. There is no legal requirement that a general partnership file anything with the Secretary of State to establish its existence or authority. In fact, there is no requirement that a general partnership even be evidenced by a written document.
As to why Neilson did it, wouldn’t simple greed be a more likely explanation than a “deep, quasi-official black op or conspiracy”? I don’t mean to assert this as fact, just a more likely presumption. Let’s see how the case ultimately pans out.
Wow! by claiming a gereral partnership, access to recorded actions are very limited. In a proclaimed State operating in secret??? Nawwww. I knew I smelled something awhile back. So how much unaccountable things have gone on with these development partnerships all over the State. I’ve notice how some developments in Marion County were timed to certain events. The down town improvements were nice. The library was all fixed up too. Only thing though, since it took the supervisors to all approve the localtion of County law books. I wonder why moving the books to the local jails was so important. It was done so by Walthal, Marion, Lamar and some Northren Parish’s of Louisiana, all at the same time. I know, I drove to them all just to check. U.S.C.S went A.W.O.L. How did so many do so much in agreement, all at the same time. Miracle? In with the new meant out with the old. I hate to see anything go to waste. It took 3 trips. Still to get the entire old law book library for free was cheap enough. No doubt there out of date now. No doubt the new books cover the law of Partnership, huh?
Didn’t all this partnership stuff start in the political tort reform years we had awhile back. It included the patient’s bill of rights and all. But I can dig it. Records being limited of legal requirements to no reasonable discoveries. What a defense. So on motion to dismiss, the driver of that peanut truck in Moton was actually the head of the Peanut Funds Transportation Partnership your Honor, excluding the ablity to any further prosecution by the court for like of discovery. This would also include the black op’s Partnership building in Oxford.
Robert, it’s time to take your meds.
Why would a contractor ‘tip off’ the deal to Greenlee when the partnerships r public record? I found C&G Properties, Jam Entertainment, ACM Properties, Osprey Management, Triple G., Oxford Dependable Dry Storage, etc. on the Secretary of States website…Greenlee said his office thought it was an ethical situation which was referred to FBI hdqs, I believe. When I think of the Beef plant I think of a deep conspiracy that is also a highly political, bungled investigation. National security, black ops and drugs r perhaps a stretch, but the Congress or a Commission would co-op that if it becomes part of the story.
I’m talking dirt on the states legal issues and mention how some of the Southren counties, IMO are most likely up to their eyeballs in ungodly corrupotion and then. I fail to see how taking my meds helps the states needed enema. somslawyer, that would be South MS.lawyer wouldn’t it. Ya! I bet you get your ears filled on a daliy basis.
Mr Neilson knew exactly what he was doing and knew that it was against the law. He hoped nobody would find out about his ownership in the deal. This is the type of crime he would investigate if an elected official had done the same thing. Mr. Neilson better get ready to spend his days in jail.
Robert, my comment was based on the incoherence of your comment. Yes, I am a south Mississippi lawyer and I know that most of what you spew is untrue based on more than 30 years’ experience with these courts as both plaintiff and defense lawyer. I appreciate that you feel ill-used in your own case, but that is not an evidentiary base for assessment of other courts in other cases.
Hatfield’s comment tangentially touches upon something that I see as a growing problem, and that is the “us” versus “them” mentality among federal agencies, and especially in federal law enforcement. Federal buildings are now fenced in and heavily guarded and have become “Ft. Apache.” Talk to local cops and they will tell you they don’t trust the feds at all. Fed are buddy-buddy with the locals until some doper alleges he was Tasered for no reason and then the local cop is in for the hassle of his life. Hatfield hits the nail on the head: if Neilson, in his capacity as an FBI agent, had uncovered activities similar to his own committed by some public official other than him, Neilson would have no hesitation to arrest, charge, and prosecute.
hatfield, if neilson hoped nobody would find out, how’d that contractor find out? rove, i think your post raises some good questions, but how’d anyone know if neilson was framed? maybe neilson’s just a wise fool like ed peters.
The contractor you’re inquiring about was an unsuccessful competitor for the FBI bldg. Shouldn’t be too hard to figger out.
ampal, Neilson did profit from this correct? The law was broken and to me it doesn’t really matter who turned him in…… The I was framed crap just doesn’t fly with me.
Neilson got $50k from the Grisanti, Covington, et al partnership. The indictment said he used the money 2 pay off credit card debt. Next question is what did the payers get from Neilson? Payola usually has a purpose.
somslawer, I can understand your confusion. I guess most cases never reach the level had regarding our own case. The type of persons involved as well corporations moving through the court and your states government at will. Rewriting history to a claimed major event. And although I spew, as you say. Please note that, yes I’ve brought attention to the matter however other than injuries and loss. That isn’t my name signed to the court documents of settled awards. Failed trials, punitive awards of unannounced who dat compensatory damage,etc. My point is. What occurred could have happen to anyone. Excluding that fact. Our name does appear as victims per awards and settlements but nothing more regarding any redress. Many involved with settlements in this have moved on to greater more expensive things in life. Overseeing the lower courts. Notice the S, local government etc. I guess it’s all sweet being on the other side the fence. What’s the deal? How could such a thing help anyone having been the target of such an act. This is your Government. The only deal here is a major settlement of my family in a claimed court of law. Extortion of awards by officials of the court. The injuries and real property loss used to settle. All of it documented. The dismissed bill of rights and that old unused constitution. Now just what exactly is untrue?
I guess in short if the courts were honest I wouldn’t be writing this.
Regarding other courts being any better to a given condition or situation you should get out more often.