She became a key FBI translator right after 9/11 and has been featured in Vanity Fair and on 60 Minutes for being fired and left hanging after blowing the whistle on allegedly corrupt FBI agents, telling of payoffs made to Rep. Dennis Hastert in exchange for his help in the Armenian "genocide proclamation" legislation.
Mrs. Edmonds' story was considered toxic to major media outlets after then Attorney General John Ashcroft invoked 'State Secrets' protection against her allegations, but new claims greatly widen the scope of the information Mrs. Edmonds wants Americans to know about. Indeed, this testimony, if published or allowed into the Congressional record could very likely help connect the dots between the Valerie Plame affair, Iranian nukes, the DoJ scandal, ten million missing emails, the illegal use of RNC email accounts, vote caging evidence and last but not least - the mishandling of crucial intel regarding terrorists involved in 9/11.
Beginning with an alleged bribe by the husband of a co-worker with ties to shadowy Turkish "lobbying" interests, Mrs. Edmonds only found out that reporting the incident to her superiors revealed how many levels of complicity were installed at the FBI.
Suspicious, she went back and re-translated the wiretaps her co-worker had labeled "low priority", revealing a slew of other conversations dying for criminal investigation. These included secret-selling and high level drug money laundering, but Mrs. Edmonds also claims to have stumbled upon evidence the agency took part in covering up or omitting important details concerning pre and post 9/11 evidence.
A subsequent Supreme Court ruling classified the case and "gagged" Edmonds without ever hearing her out, effectively quashing it on the same grounds used to nullify the Karl Rove/DoJ subpoenas: that sneaky "State Secrets Act", providing top cover for agents accused of crimes in the Bush Administration without any required disclosure of evidence in the case to a court. Even the FBI's Inspector General own report found Edmonds' claims to be "credible," "serious," and worthy of "thorough and careful review by the FBI."
This means the White House's long arm of influence not only put the kibosh on internal FBI investigations of her claims, but also criminal hearings through the judiciary (small wonder a bipartisan group of senators are now crafting legislation to require judicial review of evidence in "State Secrets" cases).
Edmonds' saga has recieved serious coverage overseas, as well as smaller US press outlets such as the Village Voice and the Al Franken Show. But she is now looking for a major media outlet to drop the motherlode, claiming that not revealing what she knows would make her complicit to crimes committed. But telling anyone without high-level clearance could also make her vulnerable to charges. This sticky spot has left Edmonds to insist any interview she gives be aired unedited, meaning if she is going to go public and risk charges, the information must be made widely public.
Reminiscent of a David vs. Goliath-sized battle, many also doubted Lt. Ehren Watada would prevail in his court martial case, claiming that his deploying in Iraq would make him complicit in an illegal war. Watada, armed only with the same public information we all know about White House lies and omissions, bravely faced a military proceeding, prepared to argue that the entire invasion of Iraq was illegal. The judge in the case became flustered and declared a mistrial for reasons never explained, allowing Watada's eventual exoneration through the double-jeopardy clause.
Similarly, Edmonds fights bravely in the face of numerous smears, threats, gags and media blackouts, because she believes herself to be an honest and patriotic American with knowledge of wrongdoing.
For fascinating reading, start here with the original Vanity Fair article:
Then, be sure to catch the latest on this developing story, widening recently to include what Edmonds promises will be testimony of malfeasance by "two well known Congressmen"(besides Hastert) . Get informed at:
