THE WITNESSES WHO WOULD NOT WITNESS

The only fairly comfortable "players" in any court room setting are
the judge and the attorneys. Defendants, with their freedom on the
line, usually carry the majority of the pressure. Jurors, who often
hate the fact that they are even present, slowly realize that the
defendant's fate is in their hands. This week, though, it was 7
citizens proudly refusing to participate as prosecutorial witnesses
who reminded us that the full power of the court can strike all those
who enter it.

The judge issued the following stern warning to each witness:

"I also want you to understand that should you refuse the Court's
order, which is to testify in accordance with the -- in response to
the prosecution's questions, I can hold you in contempt and if I hold
you in contempt, you then will be subject to certain penalties,
including the possibility of incarceration or fines -- and/or fines.

In addition, the Government has the possibility of seeking a criminal
indictment against you for failure to follow the Court's order."

Fortunately all witnesses were set free in the recent Rosenthal
re-trial, but, none of them knew this as they uttered the following statements:

ETIENNE HERSCH FONTAN: "With respect to the Court, Your Honor, I, as
an American citizen and a veteran of this country, I see this as no
reason to answer any of these questions. I completely disagree with
this Court's actions with all respect to the Court. And I cannot
proceed with any answering of any of your questions.

As a sovereign American citizen, I disagree with this Court's actions
and I respect the Court, and I respect the words you have spoken
toward me. But I stand firmly in my belief that I will not answer
any of the questions. And I understand the repercussions that are available.

I've been a product of this system before in the military. I
understand the incarceration and what the Government can do to me,
and I've been the subject of its guinea pig as a Gulf War veteran and
I've suffered because of that. And there is nothing you can do to
change my mind. I stand firmly behind my belief."

BRIAN LUNDEEN: "I'm going to refuse to answer questions. I love to
tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and if I swear to do
that, I'm going to by God get the opportunity."

EVAN SCHWARTZ: "I respectfully refuse to answer this question."

DEBORAH JOE GOLDSBERRY: "Sir, respectfully, again, I feel like this
prosecution is against the will of my community, against the will of
the voters of the United States, not just of California. I believe
that it is causing imminent harm, potentially death to my friends, my
family, the people that I love. I believe it would be immoral and
illegal for me to participate.

And as much as I respect the Court, I can't wait until you guys are
on our side of this thing. This thing is going to change, and I
appreciate that, and I'm sure you all do. I have no idea why we are
here. This is a literal joke.

And the truth is I can't participate. I have thought about the harm.
I've taken the threats seriously. They have sent the DEA after me. I
am living in fear and that is going to do nothing to break my will
because I'm a good citizen. I support this community."

JAMES SCOTT BLAIR, aka JIM SQUATTER: "At this time, I guess I'm
defying the Court's order."

CORY OKIE: "With all due respect to the Court, I refuse to answer
that question."