Perjury in the intelligent design case?

December 23, 2005

When U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III issued his devastating decision this week against intelligent-design creationism in Dover, Penn., he did more than just rule on the constitutionality of the district’s anti-science policy; Jones effectively accused the defendants of personal mendacity. From the ruling:

“It is ironic that several of these individuals, who so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose behind the ID Policy.”

Indeed, the editorial board of the local York Daily Record was so incensed by school official’s pervasive dishonesty, they suggested perjury charges: As the paper explained, “They lied about their motives. They lied about their actions. They lied about what they did or didn’t say at public meetings. They even lied when they claimed newspaper reporters lied in stories about Dover school board meetings.”

Oddly enough, by way of John Cole, it seems that the dishonesty has not gone unnoticed by prosecutors.

A federal prosecutor said testimony in the Dover Area School District’s intelligent design case is under review to determine if perjury charges should be pursued.

U.S. Middle District Attorney Thomas A. Marino said yesterday that decision will take time because there is “a lot of reading to do” to determine if the statements rise to the level of a crime.

Can you imagine? First, these former school district officials — they were thrown out of office in November — use dishonest means to advance intelligent-design creationism. Then they used dishonest means to defend their decision. It was wholly satisfying to see these frauds humiliated by the decision, but I never dreamed a prosecutor would consider perjury charges. As Cole put it:

As I am petty, vindictive, and shallow, I can not tell you how much I would enjoy seeing perjury charges filed against these charlatans.

Sounds good to me.

Sounds good to me too. Or we could stick them all in jail and let god sort it out.

Seriously, it’s become somewhate of a game for conservatives from Supreme Court Nominees to the President to act exactly like these school board members. “No, I was never against abortion.” Wink. Wink.

O the hypocrisy!

  • At every turn we must prosecute…for every will-nilly infraction in the public (and not so public) square…the GOP and the Theocons should NOT be allowed to “skate away” on the strength of our virtue…we should hold them to account to the highest degree…in civil courts, criminal courts, in interviews, in elections. It is fine to think compassion, but insist on accountability. They, after all, are the party of God and punishment is what they crave…

  • When you think about it, this just makes sense. If you believe that you have God on your side and are doing what He requires us to do; then all is justified. What is a lie in man’s court if it wins the case in God’s? And for that matter, going to jail for perjury is clearly worth it; if you’d get an eternity in Heaven. The surprise isn’t that they lied. The surprise is that this kind of thing isn’t more common.

    Sure, there are Christian rules against this kind of thing, but the most enduring aspect of the bible is its adaptability in justifying anything. Because one of its teachings is that everything is justified if it’s done on God’s behalf. These people were striving to teach God’s message to the children.

  • Nothing would make me happier than seeing perjury charges leveled against these wingnuts. But, their political views alone are enough to assure their acquittal. Not guilty by reason of insanity.

  • Lying under oath = perjury. Perjury = criminal offense.
    Criminal offense = go to jail. Simple.

    And what’s worse, they did it in a federal court! I grew up in a small agricultural village where thick-necked uni-browed cretins like this bunch thought they owned the world, too, and it’s about time they found out how things are done downtown.

    I despise all petty tyrants and throwing them in Leavenworth for a few years would do us all a world of good.

    Are you listening, George?

  • Don’t expect much from Marino. I may be mistaken, but “Marino” has big ties to Republican/Winger groups in Pennsylvania. I will have to “google” to confirm.

  • “but I never dreamed a prosecutor would consider perjury charges”

    I certainly imagined the possibility after reading reports of the defendants B.S. being soundly slammed by the judge. But it’s so hard to take the whole I.D.C., ( I read Darksyde at Kos using Intelligent Design Creationism as one phrase and I decided it was perfect and will use it all the time now), thing seriously that I figured that their utter defeat was probably all this round would amount to and they would return to muttering darkly in their corner while their fellow cheeseballs continue to commune with Imaginary Designers in Kansas and Seattle.

    But it is a serious case. And if it is to be treated with the respect it deserves and get the lasting credibility it needs to make the I.D.C.er’s really think twice about getting into another one of these rows, then perjury charges are essential and surely justified. Their silly, self-inflicted head games and willful misinterpretations of reality have caused a lot of trouble that’s far from done even with this solid smackdown.

  • Don’t you atheists get it? Bad faith is not necessarily bad Faith. And good Faith can’t possibly be bad faith. The good folks from the Harmony Grove Community Church in Dover were lying for Jesus. That ain’t no crime. Neither is lying about lying for Jesus. Sure they denied the Lord thrice – way more than thrice – but that was lying for Jesus. When you lie for Jesus, the 9th Commandment don’t count.

    And the good folks from the Harmony Grove Community Church in Dover shouldn’t be up for legal costs. That whole new-fangled ID thing wasn’t their idea – it was them Discovery Institute and Thomas More Law Center people who led them astray and told them to deny the Lord. They said they was scientists. They should pay the costs and give back the money the Community Church collected to buy them pretend science Pandas books. Hell, we got the Bible, who needs Pandas? Can’t make head nor tail of it myself.

  • Heard somewhere that christian reconstructionist are a fanatical group not unlike the diehard talibans or other fanatics. Wouldn’t be surprised to learned that chriscons made up the Dover board that supported ID.

  • I have had perjury used on me a deputy prosecutor conspired with a nurse to fabrictae a report this report stated i lived in a shed what i did was paint art in this shed it was my studio and this moron prosecuted me for harassing communications for sending erroneous email a from my mothers computer at the same exact time now isnt that an physical imposibilty to be in two place at the same time

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