A Fifth Takes the Fifth

A couple of weeks ago, we noticed that four people, David Ayres, Laura Ayres, David Lopez and Peter Evich had all invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Tonight, we learn the name of another individual who refused to testify on grounds that she may incriminate herself.

From a court filing today:

During the trial, the defense made repeated attempts to call other witnesses to testify including Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, Laura Blackann, David Lopez, and Peter Evich. These attempts were based on the fact that these witnesses had made many exculpatory statements in their interviews with the FBI. However, each witness invoked their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.

Emphasis added

Mrs. Blackann was spokesman for Tom DeLay, and later, John Doolittle. The Justice Department entered an email exchange between Mrs. Blackann and Kevin Ring into evidence in Mr. Ring's trial:

Exhibit 421: 02/10/2004 Email from Blackann to Ring, "RE: Senate FSC/ETI bill"

Laura Blackann (nee Laura Brookshire), while serving as Rep. John Doolittle's Communications Director, was helping Mr. Ring with tax legislation benefiting one of his clients when she and Mr. Ring exchange emails:

Text of Email

Laura Blackann: "Haha! [J]ust earning my Sigs Sushi ;)"

Kevin Ring: "Exactly. I will keep you occupied."

Laura Blackann: "Keep it coming -- this is the fun stuff."

The defense did not object to this exhibit. RESULT: Admissible.

It certainly made sense that Mrs. Blackann had asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. We now have confirmation.