I understand what the law is saying but it makes little sense. In fact, it is not illegal to lie to most state and city investigators. The federal law is misguided and I pretty much agree with Pabst's statement below.
Quote from Pabst:
Lotta preaching on this thread. Selling the stock was not at all illegal. I'm from the old school. The subject of an investigation has a right to lie, stonewall, not self incriminate. This was a vindictive Bonfire of the Vanities type of lawsuit. Just another reason for me to loathe the Federal Government. More bread and circuses. Don't worry little people, big brother is looking out for your interests. Sure.
Quote from Turok:
>Here is another good question. How can you have
>obstruction of justice and conspirace when there
>is no crime?
That's easy, but is a matter of "justice" semantics.
Legally "obstruction of justice" includes impeding an investigation. Most of us would agree that achieving justice would include the search for truth -- If one can lie to investigators at will then this would impede said search. "Justice" doesn't just begin when there are charges filed or a conviction -- it's a process that begins with the first questions asked. If we hope to find the truth, even when no crime was originally committed, there must be truth or teeth.
Of course the conspiracy charges simply mean that more than one person worked together in a coordinated effort to accomplish what is charged. The Jury determined that Martha and Bacanovic did just that in lying and hampering the investigation.
JB
