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Topic: Letters Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 3/9/2007 11:55:40 AM
Title: Eichenwald: I made a mistake, but...
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
That involved a story she wrote falsely accusing me – based on her interpretations of a story I wrote -- of committing scores of felonies involving child pornography. Yet no one in our profession sees any problem with running and citing this conflicted person’s stories – which are false in every particular – about my testimony, and citing as fact her falsehoods that I subscribed to gay porn sites or her implication that I was part of a bidding process for Justin. Because no one in the profession seems compelled to stop this unethical person, and because her falsehoods are now being recounted by others, I have instructed my attorney to file a $10 million libel suit against her immediately, involving both her original and more recent libels. More about this later.

In the past few days, I have learned that most reporters are not interested in details. So, for the community in general, I will explain this in simple bullet points. For those who actually want to do their jobs, I am ordering a copy of my sworn testimony, which explains every detail. Through my lawyer, I will demand corrections from anyone who deviates from these facts unless they have additional reporting to support their deviation; I will no longer be a victim of people’s unreported “interpretations."

1. In late May/early June 2005, my wife Theresa and I, acting as private citizens, began attempting to locate someone we feared was a minor caught up in child pornography. We had seen no pornography, and did not know if this person – Justin – even actually existed, but were acting off of information I had found indicating such a thing might be possible.

2. Acting as a private citizen, I began having instant message conversations with a screen name that was linked to this person. It quickly became evident that multiple people were talking to me.
3. Acting as private citizens, Theresa and I devise a plan to obtain this person’s name and address by sending a check in response to requests for a “donation.’’ If I can prove, based on that information, that this is a minor, we will contact law enforcement. Otherwise, we will invest the money in hopes of drumming up more information and luring out more information that might prove the point.

4. The money, sent to Virginia, is used by Justin Berry to purchase high-end gas powered radio controlled planes and boats. I learn this the day he cashes the check. All of those toys are abandoned by Justin when he leaves Virginia days later.

5. Weeks later, while acting as a private citizen, I convince Justin to meet with me when I learn he is days away from a horrific and abusive experience. If it is a minor, I will call the police. If not. I will attempt to convince him to treat himself with more dignity.

6. Acting as a private citizen, I meet Justin during a trip to Los Angeles where I was meeting a source. The split nature of that trip – and my mindset about it – is proven by the expenses: The Times paid for the travel. But, since the source meeting did not require an overnight stay or a car, my wife and I pay for the hotel and rental car out of our personal bank account. The reservation for the hotel and the car are not made through the Times travel office.
7. Acting as a private citizen, I inform Justin that the money we provided had been given to save him, that it had been sent with the best of intentions and that he had accepted it with the worst. He had taken good money and turned it into bad, I tell him, and he has to purge himself of it. He agrees, but then I tell him I will not accept any money from his business, his bank account or his credit cards. I will not have him pay me back by demeaning himself with someone else. I will not take dirty money. He has to find a way to earn clean money and pay me back with that. He agrees. (This was not about getting the money back…my wife and I had thrown that away. This was about using this opportunity to compel Justin to find a way to take money out of society through means that were not degrading.

8. By July 1, the time I leave Los Angeles, Justin has spoken to both Theresa (by phone) and me. He has promised to stop using drugs, and has our phone numbers. My full expectation is that he will be flying back to Mexico, where he lives, and that I will hear from him occasionally in the future when he is in trouble./CONTINUED

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