By Brad Friedman on 12/7/2004, 2:49pm PT  

FYI... Mr. Curtis' dog was shot and killed a few hours after I published my original story on the BRAD BLOG. This is the second time that Mr. Curtis has been the apparent victim of intimidation through such tacticts. Another one of his dogs was killed in 2002.

Here is part of an emotional note I wrote to my friend at Crooks & Liars just after I'd heard of the incident and while I was unable to post at the main BRAD BLOG site due to the heavy traffic after I published the story.

As I'm unable to get to The BRAD BLOG due to the crush of traffic since reporting the "WHISTLEBLOWER AFFIDAVIT: Programmer Built Vote Rigging Prototype at Republican Congressman's Request!" story, I am also unable to report on a sad new related item just in.

I've just spoken with Clint Curtis, the "whistleblower" in this case, and he's reported that his previously healthy three-year old German Shepard has been found dead. Just a few hours after I published my story on Mr. Curtis.

I don't wish to give any other details for the moment, but the story should get out there. And I'm sorry to say that this is the second time this has occured to Mr. Curtis over the years since he began trying to tell his story.

I am angry, frustrated, hurt and feel somewhat responsible somehow. But I suppose it's a good reminder of the kind of folks that Mr. Curtis has been dealing with down in Florida for so many years.

As well, I'll have to take it as a good reminder of how important it is that we continue to fight for a government populated by people who we can trust. And to continue working towards a world where this sort of thing just doesn't happen to good honest individuals like Mr. Curtis who has put up with so much in order to tell his story.

I would also like to mention something to whoever decided it was a good idea to kill an innocent animal in order to threaten or warn or intimidate Mr. Curtis in some way. Clint's remarkable courage in reporting what he has seen over the years, has lead directly to charges being filed against people who were committing espionage against the United States of America.

If there were more folks like him, willing to stand up bravely rather than sink to the cowardly level of destroying an innocent animal to make a point, I'm quite certain everyone in this country would be much better off for it.
...
Regards,
Brad
THE BRAD BLOG - The uprising WILL continue...

I have seen speculation that the dog story is a hoax or something. And I certainly don't expect anybody to take my word for it.

To that end, I hope to have info from a police report (and I don't know that one was yet filed or not, checking into it) when I can get it.

But as I believe folks have found most of my other reports (See the Raymond Lemme issue for example) have, in fact, been confirmed and are real, I hope you will give the benefit of the doubt until anything I have reported has been proven to be incorrect.

I encourage your skepticism in the entire affair. I have tried to remain equally as skeptical about all of these charges since I initially heard of them, at least until I have seen substantiation. Most have been substantiated with evidence. The most notable charges for this moment concerning election charges are clearly less substantiated with hard evidence. At this time.

MUCH STILL DEVELOPING...THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

[Originally published at BRAD BLOG TOO while The BRAD BLOG server was down.
Comments left by readers on the original article can be read at the above link.]
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