Brad Friedman and Speedway Bomber Brett Kimberlin: Practitioners of the Stalking and Thuggery They Claim to Decry
[Welcome, Instapundit readers! This post has information about the anti-speech thuggery of convicted bomber Brett Kimberlin, and his business partner Brad Friedman, against me.]
At Big Journalism, Liberty Chick has posted on Think Progress’s whitewashing of convicted bomber Brett Kimberlin from the Chamber of Commerce/HBGary story. She concisely explains the background and echoes my findings regarding Think Progress’s decision to eliminate Kimberlin from the story:
Think Progress, a project of John Podesta’s Center for American Progress Action Fund, has been fiercely pushing a story about leaked emails that suggest the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was aware of espionage work being performed against American citizens by one of its private security firms. . . .
But the reports are noticeably silent on one crucial component of the story.
The primary focus of the Chamber’s investigation was actually none other than the organization known as Velvet Revolution, and one of its co-founders, Brett Kimberlin.
Recognize that name? That’s because we told you all about this convicted domestic terrorist, known as the Speedway Bomber, who in 1981 was finally convicted of a week-long bombing spree in Indianapolis, IN in which eight separate bombs caused extensive property damage, destroyed a police cruiser, and severely maimed a man, eventually leading to that man’s suicide.
I think Liberty Chick also makes some good observations about the tactics of the firm hired by the Chamber. Understand that they not only gathered information on opponents, but they also spoke of planting false documents purportedly by their enemies. We cannot sanction such activity, and it’s important to say so. Liberty Chick says:
In the end, I don’t agree with what HBGary Federal did or how any of the firms involved have handled this. Having been a target of such attacks myself of numerous occasions, I might have actually shared some common ground with folks like Brad Friedman and other leftists on this issue. But the left’s intentional deception makes it so difficult to do so.
To that I would add: their deception and their own use of thuggish stalker and harassment tactics makes it difficult to sympathize.
Let’s all remember how Brett Kimberlin stalked Karl Rove in a Safeway, conned Rove into posing with him by pretending to be Rove’s fan, and then took a picture of Rove’s car . . . complete with license plate. And let’s all remember how Brad Friedman published those photos on his blog.
As I revealed yesterday, Brett Kimberlin has written numerous e-mails to my bosses, complaining about me and calling me a stalker. In his latest, he said: “I have already reported him to the Bar and to the ethics board and have motions in court addressing his reprehensible conduct. He is very close to getting sued and having a criminal complaint filed against him for harassment and stalking.” In addition, two secretaries in my office told me that Kimberlin called them ranting about me, calling me a racist, a stalker, and saying he was going to get a restraining order against me. There is more.
And Brad Friedman? He sent a Twitter message to Steve Cooley complaining about me. He and his stooge Ernest Canning are constantly disparaging me in a dishonest manner while using my full name and job title — a tactic they share with the Charles Johnsons and Jeff Goldsteins of the world.
There is much, much more to their intimidation tactics. I’m not discussing it all publicly now. Subscribers who want further details are welcome to e-mail me for the full scoop. The stuff I’m not putting in the post is way worse.
So, while I totally disagree with the tactics of HBGary Federal, I also totally disagree with the stalkerish, dishonest, and thuggish tactics used by Brad Friedman and his business partner, Speedway Bomber Brett Kimberlin.
They are what they decry.
Not to mention: setting off bombs is a fairly serious form of harassment. And Kimberlin was convicted of doing that . . .
P.S. I should add that this current campaign of harassment is merely a microcosm of what Shirley Sherrod is doing to Andrew Breitbart. Just when he is breaking the Pigford story wide open, Sherrod is suing him. Could it be any clearer what she’s trying to do? Silence him — just like Kimberlin is trying to silence me and Liberty Chick with threats of frivolous litigation.
Thank God for people like Andrew Breitbart and Liberty Chick, who stand up for what’s right despite the risks. And for people like Ron Coleman, my lawyer in the Kimberlin matter, for standing up for me.
UPDATE: Thanks to Instapundit for the links. Please consider bookmarking the main site, and follow my updates on Twitter here.
You can read the other related Think Progress post here. My backgrounder on convicted bomber Brett Kimberlin, who is threatening to sue me for telling the truth about him, is here. He is a serial litigant who has filed over 100 lawsuits, so I am expecting this will happen soon.
Finally: although I have pro bono counsel, I would certainly welcome any help towards litigation costs and the cost of local counsel. If you want to help out, the donation buttons are on the right. Please consider becoming a “subscriber” and making a recurring donation of $9 per month. I expect to give special non-public litigation updates to subscribers if the lawsuit is filed.
Truly, the most astounding stuff is the stuff I am not publicly discussing at this point.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/15/2011 @ 8:11 pmLooking forward to that future post, Patterico.
Brett’s filed tons of lawsuits, so I’m glad you’re prepared for it.
I have to wonder what in the hell this firm, HBGary, was thinking. Planting false documents? That just gives the cons cover with the kooks, and it was completely unnecessary.
I’m glad you mentioned the photo with Karl Rove. Since Brad knows what Brett is, those photos take on an obvious threatening meaning. It’s not that different from a photo of a paroled Loughner hanging around Obama’s family (as ridiculous as this scenario seems).
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/15/2011 @ 8:26 pmP.S. I should add that this is merely a microcosm of what Shirley Sherrod is doing to Andrew Breitbart. Just when he is breaking the Pigford story wide open, Sherrod is suing him. Could it be any clearer what she’s trying to do? Silence him — just like Kimberlin is trying to silence me and Liberty Chick with threats of frivolous litigation.
Thank God for people like Andrew Breitbart and Liberty Chick, who stand up for what’s right despite the risks. And for people like Ron Coleman, my lawyer in the Kimberlin matter, for standing up for me.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/15/2011 @ 8:34 pmThe funny thing about lefties is they always do the thing they say the right does.
You could say it’s just politics or you could say it’s just the way things are or you could say that people are stupid and they just go along.
Of course, people are not stupid. They can be deceived, but deception is temporary. Truth stands.
Ag80 (7a9f97) — 2/15/2011 @ 8:34 pmPatrick — I’d be interested in knowing what’s happening in this matter involving you. Email me the details, then we can talk.
shipwreckedcrew (436eab) — 2/15/2011 @ 9:27 pmI think that it should be said that Jeff Goldstein is a stupid, fucking, arseholing cunt. Charles Johnson is a mother fucking motherfucker.Brad Friedman? Christ on a fucking bike, he should sod the fuck off.
Fish (63f90e) — 2/15/2011 @ 9:34 pmI hope that someday Bret Kimberlin and crissyhooten and Brad Freidman are attacked by teeming hordes of demonic midget clowns riding Shetland ponies.
JD (855f87) — 2/15/2011 @ 9:34 pmshipwreckedcrew: will do.
Dustin, the same applies to you, if you like. some of this, I may never post.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:11 pmSubscribers who want further details are welcome to e-mail me for the full scoop.
Wait, what?! We can subscribe to Patterico? Why wasn’t I told!
Have Blue (854a6e) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:16 pmDo subscribers get special access or extra content? 🙂
There is a PayPal button on the sidebar that allows you to make a recurring monthly donation of $9.
I can’t promise special access or extra content, at least regularly. You mainly get the satisfaction of supporting the blog on a regular basis, and getting me closer to the point of breaking even on monthly expenses.
But I do give occasional perks. This report on Friedman and the left’s intimidation tactics, including some things I can’t talk about on the blog, is one thing I am offering to subscribers whom I trust (which is currently all of them).
If Kimberlin sues me, I suspect regular litigation updates that I can’t talk about on the blog may be one of the perks.
Feel free to sign up, Have Blue! The PayPal buttons are on the right.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:30 pmAnyone whom I have e-mailed, don’t disclose details — but feel free to weigh in here in the comments as to whether I am exaggerating.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:34 pmAs an internet using Ludite this may finally cause me to get off my keister and get a Pay Pal account. Thanks for the info on this Patterico.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:35 pmPatterico – OT but have you been following the story of the Egyptian cab driver in San Diego. Am reading Ace’s take right now.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:37 pmHave Blue: you can use a credit or debit card as well. Click the Subscribe button and you’ll see an option for that.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:38 pmPatrick Frey is not exaggerating. Jeeeeeeez.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 2/15/2011 @ 10:43 pmI’m sorry to see you have been targeted by these two buffoons, but I’m glad to see you’re standing up to their thuggery. You can tell by the way Brad debates that he’s neither prepared for discussion nor able to even appear educated when he is limited to 140 characters, so I don’t think you’ll have trouble keeping them off your back.
Azure (ff8881) — 2/15/2011 @ 11:59 pmThis same thing happened to Kevin over at hillbuzz.org (when they found out he likes Palin, has gone conservative).. They are relentless trying to destroy us.
Heidi (f2f185) — 2/16/2011 @ 12:27 amI just want it entered into the record that Who ever Fish is, they are currently my favorite person in the world.
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 2/16/2011 @ 5:11 amWhere is Jim, to suggest that denying committing these bombings does not make Kimberlin unrepentant?
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/16/2011 @ 7:17 amI don’t know, do we have any intel on local goat herds?
SPQR (26be8b) — 2/16/2011 @ 7:54 amThis post and my other recent Kimberlin post got a double Instapundit link — and not a single person commented all day on either one.
On the other hand, remember how I said that I could see what Amazon purchases people made through the sidebar, but not who was making them?
Today I saw the coolest purchase that anyone has made through that Amazon widget — ever. Someone bought Citizen K — the book about Kimberlin.
Cost to buyer: 11 cents (plus shipping)
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/16/2011 @ 8:21 pmPatterico’s cut: one cent
Satisfaction to Patterico: priceless.
That’s neat.
SPQR (26be8b) — 2/16/2011 @ 8:29 pmI guess it’s an exaggeration to say there were no comments on this thread. SPQR did have one at 7:54 a.m.
The other thread, also linked by Instapundit, had literally not one comment all day long. The last one was on 2/15.
Just weird, that.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/16/2011 @ 8:43 pmCheck the moderation filter 😉
JD (d4bbf1) — 2/16/2011 @ 8:44 pmOh, it is certain that there are all manner of bizarre comments in the moderation filter. After all, a couple of deservedly banned trolls don’t like being there.
But what you can’t hear, you can’t hear.
And I can’t hear them.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/16/2011 @ 8:55 pmI think everyone’s more interested in Egypt. Instapundit links surely got this matter a lot more attention, but it’s not exactly a slow news day, with the budget, Egypt, food crisis, and Justin Beiber on Rolling Stone (j/k).
I’m glad Breitbart’s people are involved too, because they seem to take the long view on developing stories, hacking away for a while, and making sure something important like this doesn’t get stale.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/16/2011 @ 8:58 pmGood luck, P. Shoot me an email with the details and let me know if you need any help!
Cankle (ff54c1) — 2/16/2011 @ 10:57 pmOne more supposed coincidence is that the Federal Parole Commission has treated Mr. Kimberlin with singular harshness. He was convicted of marijuana smuggling, which he admits, and of bombings, which he denies.
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/25/opinion/abroad-at-home-the-kimberlin-case.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm
–Looks like you’re partially right and partially wrong about him being “unrepentant”.
Jim (ad29d8) — 2/17/2011 @ 11:05 pmJim,
That is a lie and you are a liar.
You are doing a bait and switch. Nobody ever said he was unrepentant about the marijuana smuggling.
O’Connor calls him an “unrepentant domestic terrorist.” That is what the discussion has been about. Not about marijuana smuggling. Not about whether he is “unrepentant” in the abstract, about anything he has ever done.
The issue is remorse for the bombings. I was 100% right about that. He is unrepentant. You lie when you say I was wrong about that. You were wrong for ever suggesting otherwise, or that the evidence was lacking.
What’s more, you are also wrong to say this proves he is repentant about the marijuana smuggling. He admits it. I am aware of nothing, in your link or anywhere else, to suggest he is remorseful about that.
Which, again, is not the issue here. It is your attempt to distract from how painfully wrong you were on this.
I warned you that you were embarrassing yourself. And you were. But you wouldn’t listen. Now, until you own up sincerely and apologize, your credibility is shot.
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/18/2011 @ 7:24 amPatterico, go back and read some of your old posts. You originally said he was unrepentant about making allegations about Quayle:
‘If you follow that link, there is plenty of evidence Kimberlin is unrepentant: namely, his dishonest claims that he was incarcerated for First Amendment activity…’
As to your claim that proof of his unrepentantness was in your article: It was–but it was in the second page of Time magazine article, which was a link in the Big Journalism article that was a link in your initial article on the topic. There was nothing in the body of the Big Journalism article about this issue, so the “proof” was very deeply buried.
Jim (ad29d8) — 2/19/2011 @ 10:11 am