Watergate Hearings: James McCord Testimony (1973)
May 22, 1973 – James McCord talks about promises from the Nixon administration about his taking the blame for Watergate during his criminal trial. Watch more from the hearings: thefilmarchived.blogspot.com The following is the full text of the letter that McCord wrote to Judge Sirica during the Watergate trial: James W. McCord, Jr. 7 Winder Court Rockville , Maryland 20850 TO: JUDGE SIRICA March 19, 1973 Certain questions have been posed to me from your honor through the probation officer, dealing with details of the case, motivations, intent and mitigating circumstances. In endeavoring to respond to these questions, I am whipsawed in a variety of legalities. First, I may be called before a Senate Committee investigating this matter. Secondly, I may be involved in a civil suit, and thirdly there may be a new trial at some future date. Fourthly, the probation officer may be called before the Senate Committee to present testimony regarding what may otherwise be a privileged communication between defendant and Judge, as I understand it; if I answered certain questions to the probation officer, it is possible such answers could become a matter of record in the Senate and there-fore available for use in the other proceedings just described. My answers would, it would seem to me, to violate my fifth amendment rights, and possibly my 6th amendment right to counsel and possibly other rights. On the other hand, to fail to answer your questions may appear to be non-cooperation, and …