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Bush National Guard questions revived 'Did political power keep him out of Vietnam?' Posted: September 28, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jerome R. Corsi
The
question of whether political power was used to keep George W. Bush out
of combat service in Vietnam could be unlocked in two separate
investigations that likely will seek the testimony of Larry Littwin, a
former Texas Lottery commissioner, WND has confirmed.
The two probes are a Missouri state inquiry into GTECH,
the Connecticut lottery firm that operates the Texas Lottery, and the
lawsuit brought by former CBS News anchorman Dan Rather for $70
million.
Rather
accuses the network of making him a "scapegoat" for the discredited
2004 election campaign story about Bush's National Guard service. As WND reported,
CBS News initially stood by its claims in the face of widespread
accusations – brought first by bloggers – that early 1970s documents
used in the story to discredit Bush were forgeries, created with a
modern word-processing program.
But neither of the new investigations depends on the authenticity of the documents.
(Story continues below)
Eric Wilhoit, a contract investigator, has been hired by the state of Missouri to conduct an investigation of GTECH.
In
a telephone interview, Wilhoit told WND he is seeking a release from
GTECH that would permit Littwin to speak directly with him on the
record.
In April, Missouri
awarded GTECH an $11 million five-year contract to provide Internet
hook-ups with the 3,000 lottery retailers throughout the state of
Missouri. Wilhoit's investigation is focused on Lottomatica, an Italian company that agreed in February 2006 to acquire GTECH.
Missouri
is concerned that the acquisition involves a globalization of lottery
service providers that would prevent the state from having full and
complete access to GTECH internal information, as would be the case if
GTECH were operated solely as a U.S. corporation.
WND has also confirmed that attorneys for Rather are considering pursuing Littwin, 72, for a deposition.
Rebecca Hughes Parker – an associate at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in New York City where partner Martin Gold
has been retained to represent Rather – told WND the legal team is
researching Littwin's background and has not decided whether to seek
his testimony.
To
prove damages, Rather's attorneys may only need to prove the story
about Bush's Air National Guard service was essentially true, not that
the disputed documents were authentic.
Littwin,
who now lives in New York City, has confirmed to WND he wants to
cooperate with the Missouri investigation and is in negotiations with
GTECH to obtain a formal legal release so he can speak directly with
Wilhoit.
In
2004, during the controversy that swirled around President Bush's
nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, Littwin arose as a figure with testimony – and possibly documents – that could undermine the Bush presidency.
WND reported
Miers withdrew her nomination to the Supreme Court after mainstream
media news sources confirmed the WND story that Littwin had been
released from a gag order to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee
on Miers' nomination.
Littwin alleges then-Gov. Bush and Miers, appointed by Bush to the Texas Lottery Commission, allegedly conspired to fire him.
How does this tie back to Bush's National Guard service?
Barnes
turned out to be the politician George H.W. Bush allegedly contacted to
get his son into the Texas Air National Guard ahead of other
candidates. At
that time, service in Bush's unit of the National Guard was known to be
one of the few sure paths to avoid combat duty in Vietnam.
Rather featured Barnes prominently on camera
in a near-tears claim that he held young Bush's life in his hands and
chose life, rather than have him face the danger of possible death in
Vietnam.
On June 10, 1997, Littwin was hired from a field of 700 applicants.
He
was to be paid an annual salary of $100,000, largely because of his
credentials working 25 years for Control Data, including time spent
with CD's subsidiary lottery company, Automated Wagering International,
or AWI.
When
Littwin was hired, the Texas Lottery Commission was in the process of
putting the GTECH contract out to bid, even though the contract did not
expire until 2002. By
June 1997, AWI was GTECH's leading competitor around the country. Seen
from GTECH's perspective, the Texas Lottery Commission had hired the
enemy.
Determined
to hit the ground running, Littwin almost immediately opened the window
for competitive bids. AWI announced a bid would be made. Next,
Littwin moved to begin a thorough records search within the Lottery
Commission, aimed at uncovering any patterns of influence peddling or
corruption. When
it became apparent Littwin was going to examine Democratic Party
campaign contributions, Commissioner Harriet Miers seemed initially
supportive. On Sept. 18, 1997, the Dallas Morning News reported Miers said Littwin "is doing the right thing for the right reason."
Littwin was investigating Barnes, a Democrat.
Then, on Sept. 21, 1997, the Morning News reported Gov. Bush was becoming nervous about Littwin, who was moving fast.
"I
don't think any of us understand what he was doing," Bush told the
paper. "If in fact he was gathering data to try to embarrass a member
of the House or Senate or the executive branch, it's inappropriate
behavior. I just don't understand what was gong on there, and I don't
think anybody does yet. I think that'll be clarified by the
commission." On Oct. 29, 1997, the commission voted to fire Littwin, though he had been on the job less than five full months.
Littwin objected, loudly.
On Oct. 30, 1997, the Austin American-Statesman reported Littwin believed he was being fired for political reasons.
"The
commission really showed little or no backbone in dealing with the
political process in the state of Texas," he asserted. "Everybody got
very upset when I started to look at GTECH's campaign contributions. I
think I stirred up concerns that perhaps something might be going on." The Houston Chronicle reported on the same day Littwin's claims that the competitive bidding process would not succeed.
"In
every state where GTECH has been present and the lottery director has
not become a close friend of theirs, something happens to the lottery
director before the procurement process is complete," he told the
Houston paper.
GTECH sued for breach of contract, refusing to bid in the open competition.
On
Feb. 19, 1998, the Texas Lottery Commission voted to end the
competitive bidding and stay with GTECH, just as Littwin predicted. The
commission had received three competitive bids, including one from AWI,
which the company claimed would have saved the commission $92 million
over five years. AWI also would have installed a new computer system at
its own expense. Littwin hired a lawyer who sued GTECH in federal court.
He pressed to get a deposition from Miers, but she resisted the subpoena.
A federal magistrate ruled Miers did not have to testify. Still, Littwin succeeded in taking a deposition with Barnes.
Under
oath, Barnes discussed his alleged involvement with the Bush National
Guard controversy and his political influence peddling for GTECH. Littwin won. GTECH settled out of court, agreeing to pay Littwin $300,000.
As
a condition of the settlement, Littwin agreed to destroy all documents
produced by the litigation, including any copies he may have had of the
Barnes deposition. The Barnes deposition in the Littwin case has never come to light.
In 1997, GTECH bought out Barnes' contract for $23 million.
Accusations
continue to this day that Miers was Bush's "cover-up artist," placed by
Bush on the Texas Lottery Commission to make sure GTECH never lost the
Texas contract and Barnes never had a motivation for going public with
his version of the Bush National Guard story.
Related special offers:
POISON PRESS: How the big media's death throes are heralding a stunning information revolution
THE NEWS MAFIA: A groundbreaking look at media bias and the future of the free press
WND book exposes 'Journalistic Fraud: How the New York Times Distorts the News'
Previous stories:
White House had eye on WND's Miers stories
Rather sues CBS for $70 million
Rather: Bush Guard story 'absolutely true'
Dan Rather unrepentant: Story on Bush 'accurate'
CBS station scraps poll on airing Rather tribute
Blogs blast CBS panel's 'no bias' conclusion
CBS News urged: Get out of NYC!
Affiliates distance themselves from CBS
Rather apologizes for CBS 'mistake'
CBS News claims: We were deceived
Col. Staudt denies Bush got special treatment
Group petitions FCC against CBS
CBS docs traced to Texas Kinko's
Democrats hammer Bush in new video
Ben Barnes' daughter: Father lied about Bush
Jerome R. Corsi is a staff reporter for WND. He received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in political science in 1972 and has written many books and articles, including his latest best-seller, "The Late Great USA." Corsi co-authored with John O'Neill the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry." Other books include "Showdown with Nuclear Iran," "Black Gold Stranglehold: The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil," which he co-authored with WND columnist Craig. R. Smith, and "Atomic Iran."
E-MAIL JEROME R. CORSI | GO TO JEROME R. CORSI'S ARCHIVE
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