Vitter Facing Subpoena to Testify in DC Madam Trial

Finally, it appears that Vitter will no longer be able to hide behind the veil of "no comment" when it comes to his whore-mongering. Looks like Vitter will be required to testify at the trial of DC Madam Jeanne Palfrey about his use of the Escort Service she ran.

It's rather poetic justice that no matter how Vitter responds to such a subpoena, it will reflect poorly on him and once again jeopardize his standing in the Senate and in the GOP. Even his continued silence in the face of a subpoena by pleading the 5th won't come across well. The Times-Picayune article explains:

Legal experts say Vitter has little grounds to avoid testifying, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court said former President Bill Clinton had to provide testimony in Paula Jones' civil lawsuit.

"He may also make some argument based on his being a member of Congress, but I doubt it will work," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond (Va.)

Sibley said he expects Vitter will try to quash the subpoena on the grounds that his testimony would not add much to the legal issues at the hearing. But, he said, Vitter's public admission that he was a client, along with the phone records, could undercut that strategy.

"He has a problem because he went on TV and apologized," Sibley said.

...

Legal experts say it is possible Vitter will attempt to avoid discussing the details of his dealings with Palfrey's escorts by asserting his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. But that, too, carries a political risk.

"The thing can hardly be viewed as a joyful experience," said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. "If he pleads the Fifth, he'll put himself in the same category as mobsters and madams. If he testifies, he will create his own detailed record that can be used in his next campaign. Either way he is facing a serious problem."

They say the truth will set you free. That may be true with regard to Vitter's soul, but the truth would certainly probably sink his career. I'm sure Vitter is probably thinking: "If only the truth were such that I could call a press conference and do what Una Anderson did when faced with a potentially damaging accusation."

But, alas, the truth is that David Vitter is a marriage-defiling john; and I'm fairly sure he wouldn't want to perjure himself over the matter, too. Time is almost up, David Vitter. The chick-a-dees have apparently finally come home to roost.