From: Brad Huntting <huntting@glarp.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 13:14:06 +0800
To: John Young <jya@pipeline.com>
Subject: Re: New Mitnick Book
In-Reply-To: <199601040114.UAA21383@pipe3.nyc.pipeline.com>
Message-ID: <199601040453.VAA00416@misc.glarp.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



>  Shimomura likes his computer-controlled cellular phone, but
>  its use for tracking is limited. Its main purpose is to
>  lock on a call and eavesdrop. It is illegal to use it to
>  eavesdrop on calls. That's why Shimomura needed immunity
>  from prosecution when he demonstrated his Oki scanner
>  before Congress a couple of years ago. (p. 6)

Curious, David Skaggs (R-CO) while arguing against having the Rocky
Flats Grand Jury testify before congress on they're findings pointed
out that congress can only offer immunity from prosecution for a
testimony _about_ crimes they may have committed.

In Shimomura's case the crime was committed in front of congress
as _part_ of his testimony.  One could easily argue, as Skaggs did,
that congress oversteped it's bounds by asking a witness to commit
a crime.  Then again, they're the ones who decide what most of
these crimes are in the first place.


Sorry to stray off topic.
brad