Did Justice Order Forced Psych Medication?
The internal recommendation from federal prison psychiatrists on forced
medication for Susan Lindauer.
New Evidence Obtained in Lindauer Case
Hearing in NY Federal Court on Sept. 11, 2001
Michael Collins
"Scoop" Independent News
(Wash. DC) On 9/11 Susan Lindauer will have the second of three hearings to prove her competence to stand trial as an accused "unregistered foreign agent" for Iraq prior to the 2003 U.S. invasion. She was indicted in April 2004 and has consistently requested an open trial to prove her innocence. Lindauer provided "Scoop" Independent News with a copy of a December 23, 2005 "Medication Hearing" report by psychiatrists at the federal prison, Carswell Air Force Base, Ft. Worth, Texas. She was confined there for seven months for evaluation in 2005 and 2006..
At May 2006 hearings before then Judge Michael B. Mukasey (now U.S. Attorney General), assistant U.S. Attorney Ed O'Callaghan requested a court order that would have forced Lindauer to take the psychiatric medications listed below. Lindauer adamantly denied any need for medication, Physical coercion is allowed for those subject to involuntary medication by court order. The drugs that the government wanted to force into her body included: "Antipsychotics, Benzodiazepeines, Antidepressant, Mood Stabilizers"
This is the face page of the "Notice of Medication Hearing." Carswell psychiatrists recommended the use of powerful psychotropic medication for a non specific diagnosis by a prisoner described as consistently "appropriate" to staff and peers.
According to the prosecution, forced medication was necessary in order for Lindauer to stand trial on charges that she acted as an "unregistered foreign agent" for Iraq and attempted to influence a highly placed U.S. government official. Among other things, the "influence" included discouraging the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq due to the damage that it would cause the United States (see letter). The "official" turned out to be Andrew Card, then chief of staff for President Bush and Lindauer's second cousin. Lindauer denies the charges categorically and asserts that she'd been a U.S. intelligence asset for years prior to her arrest. She reports working on the Lockerbie investigation, anti terrorist activities which she says involved Iraqi cooperation, and other efforts.
The Dec. 23 medication report suggested a full spectrum of serious medications for Lindauer. But the report recommended against "involuntary medication." This clearly indicated by a check in the box next to part "4. Findings," section "A." which states, "Involuntary medication is not approved" (see photocopy of report at top article).
Based on the professional opinion of the psychiatrist(s) evaluating her plus the staff and others who contributed to the report, there was no justification for forced medication.
The report, which Lindauer refused to sign, contains a summary of her objections to the diagnosis and the suggested medications:
"Ms. Lindauer reported she was against medication of any kind, including psychotropic medication.
"She denied the possibility of mental illness, since again reporting in detail her belief that the government is having her detained because she represents a threat to the administration due to her differing beliefs about their policies on Iraq. She states she has been a government agent for 9 years working in 'anti terrorism.'
