In a nutshell from Ed Whelan...
And given Walker’s actions, the witnesses were correct to believe that the “potential for public broadcast” had not been eliminated.
As it turns out, he still had it video-taped. And now he's released the video tape, albeit a limited release. Read on for my take on this...
Intimidation is sometimes a dog-whistle, something that people understand as happening even if it is couched in the terms of plausible-deniability. The classic Hollywood shakedown, "it would be a shame if anything happened to it" ... meaning anything vulnerable to the intimidation that is of value to the person being intimidated, is purposefully vague as to not directly implicate the extorters. Threats, especially to intelligent people never need to be spelled out.
I've seen many (some fans of intimidation themselves) watch the witnesses who shied away from testimony for threat of public exposure, and call them cowards. I too wish they had more fortitude in this situation. However, the threat doesn't come from.. Having their ideas marched in front of the public. Their ideas are available via the public manuscript.
But line up the dots and you'll find that the video record makes them particularly vulnerable to one particular group. A group that is militantly promoting the idea of neutering marriage. A group associated with many vices, including some of the worst smear campaigns coupled with one of the largest bullhorns on the planet. Guess who I'm talking about yet?
Yes, Judge Walker who allowed all comers to help his cause -- wait... you don't think he had a cause in this? I've already mentioned how his unequal treatment of San Francisco vs Imperial County shows his bias in the matter. But his effort to broadcast the trial was his way of adding one other friend to help out his cause. A group of people who, like he did in his decision, edit out everything that doesn't fit the narrow narrative -- as if it didn't exist. Out of sight, out of mind.
Still guessing who?
Well, do you wonder why people giving testimony would not want to submit themselves to that entity outside the court? Do you hear the dog-whistle the judge blew or not?
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