Wade Saunders: When Journalism Research Turns You Into A Paedo
SWIFT boater Wade Sanders was all for John Kerry in 2004. He called the enemies of Kerry “chicken hawks” –the term is meant to indicate that the person in question is cowardly or hypocritical and/ or “an adult male who behaves in a sexual and often predatory manner towards adolescent males”.
Guess what. Go on:. Guess…
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that he “pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge of possessing child pornography”:
The investigation into Sanders began in October 2007, according to a statement filed in the case by San Diego FBI agent John Caruthers.
Another FBI agent working undercover signed on to a file-sharing computer network and entered a search term that is used for accessing child pornography images.
Among the responses to that search term was one for a specific computer address that the agents eventually traced to Sanders’ home in South Park in San Diego. The agent then obtained a list of files that were being shared on the computer and downloaded 11 files, including at least two that contained images of child pornography.
On May 2, 2008, agents executed a search warrant at Sanders’ home and seized his computer. During the search, Sanders admitted he had downloaded child pornography using the file-sharing program, but said he deleted the files once he noticed they were downloaded, according to the FBI statement.
But it’s all a terrible misunderstanding. Really:
In a telephone interview last night, Sanders said he had downloaded the files as part of his research for an article on the sexual exploitation of children in foreign countries. He said his work for the Clinton administration had included aiding victims of child sex abuse in the former Yugoslavia.
“I have no sexual attraction to children whatsoever,” Sanders said. “There was no evil intent.”
Sanders, a lawyer, said he didn’t realize federal child pornography laws barred downloading or viewing the material even by researchers. He said that is why he decided to plead guilty.
“I thought since my motives were pure and innocent, that would make a difference,” he said. “I’m technically guilty of the crime.”
Techincally, it’s a thought crime. Is flicking through a peado magazine different to buying it, or downloading it? What about cartoons? What about fake child abuse?
Bernie Ward was also working on a book. So too Pete Townsend. Can research turn you into a peado? What about thinking about research..?
Posted: 23rd, December 2008 | In: Politicians Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
