'Stories missed critical point'

Dear Editor:

Although the article by Bloomsberg News' David Voreacas ("Rigas Breaks Silence," Jan. 6) on my family's plight was to an unfortunate extent a rehash of unproven allegations, my purpose in writing this letter is not to discuss my disappointment in that regard.

Rather, my intent is to point out that a key statement from my father was omitted in your excerpts from the article: that the government's main witness, Jim Brown, misled jurors to gain a lesser sentence for himself.

My father and I described to Mr. Voreacas in great detail how Mr. Brown misrepresented the intent and substance of what had occurred at Adelphia. I provided personal accounts of conversations that I had had with Brown during the tense spring and summer months of 2002 in which he betrayed his self-serving motives. Mr. Voreacas chose to use only a brief reference to this subject.

The ability of government prosecutors to intimidate witnesses into essentially reciting a script prepared by the government perverts the search for truth and makes a mockery of a system that is supposed to promote justice for all citizens.

While most of the American public chooses to ignore the abuses of this presidential administration, I believe that it is time for Americans to understand just how dangerous the Bush Justice Department has become.

James Rigas

Coudersport

DUI: Is it really worth it?

To the editor:

As part of the "Over the Limit/Under Arrest" national impaired driving crackdown, state and municipal police DUI task forces across Pennsylvania are out in force doing special patrols for impaired driving. Police officers use checkpoints and roving patrols to detect, arrest and prosecute both drunk and drugged drivers.

Police officers specially trained in detecting impaired drivers are the latest addition to law enforcement's DUI tool box. With a success rate of 95%, these state and municipal officers will not miss drugged driving.

Last year, 579 people were killed and more than 10,000 people were injured in Pennsylvania as the result of over 13,000 impaired driving crashes.

Convictions for DUI cost about $13,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and insurance costs and include mandatory jail sentences. People convicted of impaired driving often lose other important things in their lives, such as family, employment, dignity, money and freedom.

On behalf of the Pa. Driving Under the Influence Assn., I ask you, is it worth it?

C. Stephen Emi Executive Director

Harrisburg