French magistrate investigates Jimmy Walter

[xmasdale]

Science Daily posts a UPI report about French newspapers having recently received copies of a US-origin DVD promoting a 9/11 conspiracy theory:

"9/11 Conspiracy DVD Sent to French Media" - UPI (Paris), 5 Aug 2005

Hundreds of French reporters have received copies of a DVD claiming the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks were fabricated by the Bush administration.

Titled "Confronting the Evidence," and posted from New York, the DVD claims that the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were a lie orchestrated by U.S. President George W. Bush.

The news was reported Friday in Le Figaro newspaper, whose reporters were among those who received copies of the DVD.

A magistrate's office in the Paris suburb of Essonne has opened an inquiry into the matter.

This is hardly the first French 9/11 conspiracy theory. A book by French writer Thierry Meyssan made similar claims following the terrorist strike. Meyssan's book sold more than 300,000 copies.

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Le Figaro's report can be read online:

"'Complot' du 11 Septembre: un DVD inonde les redactions,"
by Anne-Charlotte De Langhe - Le Figaro, 5 Aug 2005
(my rough translation)

Entiled 'Facing the Evidence,' the film, recorded on DVD, was mailed from Jamaica [Plains?], a neighborhood of New York. It arrived in the mailboxes of hundreds of French journalists in mid-July, including that of [Le] Figaro. The producer, a certain Jimmy Walter, included a letter calling for a re-opening of the investigation into the September 2001 attacks....

A financial whiz who also has keen interests in religion, psychology and philosophy, Jimmy Walter spared no expense [on the DVD's production]. The DVD, which is readable in eight languages, is copyright free. The cover bears a brief message inviting people to make copies....

Le Figaro reports that journalists turned the DVD over to French prosecutors, who examined it in light of possible violation of French laws against incitement to hate and racist language. (Le Nouvel Observateur later reported that prosecuters had decided there were no grounds to pursue a case - see the article linked to below.) Le Figaro also says that the film/DVD had been "boycotted" by American media, but does not give its source for that statement.

Le Nouvel Observateur ("Enquete sur un DVD conspirationniste," 6 Aug 2005) notes that many publications received multiple copies of the DVD. Weekly Le Republicain reportedly received twelve copies, and the local news desk of Parisien is said to have received seven.

http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/medias/20050806.OBS5602.html

Jimmy Walter is a private citizen who has been calling for a re-examination of the 9/11 attacks for some time, with efforts including a European speaking tour in early 2005.

http://eccentricstar.typepad.com/public_diplomacy_weblog_n/2005/08/911 _conspiracy_.html

"September 11 Conspiracy Theorist Poses $130,000 Challenge" - ABC News, 16 Dec 2004 (sourced to Reuters)

Jimmy Walter has spent more than $3.9 million promoting the conspiracy theory and is offering the reward to any engineering student who can prove the World Trade Centre buildings crashed the way the Government says they did.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1266553.htm

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Note. Approximately 300 copies of the DVD were handed out to RTE members of staff at the gates of RTE HQ on July 7th 2005 and all eight members of the RTE Authority recieved multiple copies a week later along with a request that the documentary be shown to the Irish people in accordance with the stations public sector mandate.

[Andrew Johnson]

It's a start. I do find it odd how the words "Conspiracy Theory" are blurted out as an automatic motion before points of evidence are mentioned. Good how Science daily presents opinion before facts....

But as I said, it's a start!

[Belinda]

Does anyone know what reward/how much Jimmy is offering to any engineering student who can prove the towers fell as the Government said they did? We should advertise this here in the UK and get the engineering students involved!

[Andrew Johnson]

This information is on the www.reopen911.org:

[mason-free party]

I'd love to see Jimmy Walter stand for American President...what a guy!