United States v. Ehrlichman

389 F. Supp. 95, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7752
District Court, District of Columbia·Decided July 3, 1974·No. Crim. 74-116·Published·Cited by 16 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

GESELL, District Judge.

Defendant Liddy, by his counsel, has orally moved to strike the testimony of E. Howard Hunt, a Government witness, at the conclusion of his direct testimony on the ground that prior testimony of Hunt given under oath in executive session before the Subcommittee on Intelligence of the House Armed Services Committee last year has not been produced, in alleged violation of Liddy’s rights under the Jencks Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500, Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Earlier, defendant Liddy had caused a subpoena duces tecum- covering the transcript of that testimony to be served on counsel for the Subcommittee and, following a negative response by the Chairman, see appended letter, defendant caused a second subpoena to be served on the Honorable Carl Albert, Speaker of the House. Although the Court and the Special Prosecutor also requested that the testimony be produced, at least for the Court’s in camera inspection, the Chairman of the Subcommittee has rejected these requests. Instead, in accordance with House Resolution 12, 93d Cong., 1st Sess., 119 Cong.Rec. H. 19-20 (daily ed. Jan. 3, 1973), * both subpoenas are being held by the Speaker pending action by the House, which apparently is not contemplated in the foreseeable future. See 116 Cong.Rec. 37652-54 (1970), for an example of similar action with regard to subpoenas issued during the military trials of Lieutenant William Calley and Staff Sergeant David Mitchell.

The Special Prosecutor does not possess or have access to the subpoenaed testimony, and no specific showing has been made as to its contents. However, it appears to have dealt, in part and long after the events, with the intelligence community’s role in the Fielding break-in, which bears upon the issues in this case, and it is apparently being sought solely because it may contain statements by Hunt of possible value on cross-examination.

*97 The Court concludes that the Jencks Act does not apply to the requested material. While the Act probably contemplates disclosure by all Executive investigatory agencies, Augenblick v. United States, 377 F.2d 586, 597-598, 180 Ct.Cl. 131 (1967), rev’d on other grounds, 393 U.S. 348, 89 S.Ct. 528, 21 L.Ed.2d 537 (1969), there is no indication that Congress intended it to encompass its own legislative proceedings held in executive session, and its previous and continued resistance to subpoenas duces tecum argues strongly to the contrary. See authorities cited in Nixon v. Sirica, 159 U.S.App.D.C. 58, 487 F.2d 700, 715 n. 70, 738-740, 772-773 (1973).

Nor does Brady apply. The subpoenaed testimony is not in the possession of the Government within the meaning of that decision, since the Subcommittee is neither an investigative or a prosecutorial arm of the Executive branch nor an agency of the Government in any way involved in the offense or related transactions. See United States v. Deutsch, 475 F.2d 55, 57 (5th Cir. 1973); United States v. Bryant, 142 U. S.App.D.C. 132, 439 F.2d 642, 650 (1971).

The only other constitutional principle that might justify production of the subpoenaed testimony is the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right in this criminal proceeding “to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor.” Under this provision, the Court must enforce a defendant’s subpoena for testimony or documents “essential to the defense,” United States v. Schneiderman, 106 F.Supp. 731 (S.D.Cal.1952); See also Washington v. State of Texas, 388 U.S. 14, 87 S.Ct. 1920, 18 L.Ed.2d 1019 (1967); United States v. De Stefano, 476 F.2d 324, 330 (7th Cir. 1973), and such process may even run to the Members of Congress, United States v. Cooper, 4 U.S. (4 Dall.) 341, 1 L.Ed. 859 (1800). However, no such showing of. need has been made in this case. Hunt has testified numerous times on the same subjects under oath, and defendant has had full access to this other testimony. Moreover, unlike the Brady rule which requires dismissal if the requested material is not produced, or the Jencks Act which requires mistrial or the striking of the witness’ testimony, the right to compulsory process requires only that the Court use its best efforts to procure the subpoenaed documents. If that material is rendered unavailable by loss or by the valid exercise of a privilege, the defendant has no constitutional right to a remedial order unless such unavailability also raises Brady or Jencks Act problems. Smith v. United States, 385 F.2d 34, 38 n. 12 (5th Cir. 1967); Johnson v. Walker, 199 F.Supp. 86, 95 (E.D.La.1961), aff’d 317 F.2d 418 (5th Cir. 1963); United States v. Di Gregorio, 148 F.Supp. 526, 528 (S.D.N.Y. 1957).

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United States v. Ehrlichman, 389 F. Supp. 95, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7752 (D.D.C. 1974).

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