Fugget about it!Follow

I acknowledged the connection of the two. Let me try again.

If you're being questioned by a police officer, you probably don't have a lawyer near by to advise you. You maybe emotional, confused, etc. Saying or doing anything could make the situation worse. It's probably better just to comply. That's a completely different scenario AFTER the arrest/detention when you're in court days/weeks later after being advised by a lawyer. If you are continually denying any progress, then you're obviously hiding something. There is no reason in the latter scenario to plead the 5th unless you're hiding something. At that time, you're not talking to the police and if you are, it's in a court room.

Given the fact that we are humans, that doesn't actually happen. Even though you are "innocent till proven guilty", you are still seen as having potential guilt, or you wouldn't be there in the first place. Else, we would randomly take people to court.

No. that's not what it's saying. You should NEVER talk to police, regardless of whether they are asking you at a crime scene, during an interrogation or at any other point in the process. That's what you're lawyer is for, should you require one. I mean, you can talk about the sports and the weather at a police benefit barbeque or something, I guess.

Given two equally guilty or innocent people, those who try to "help" their case via talking to the police go to jail, receive fines, etc. at a significantly higher rate.

It does happen if you decide to consider the evidence presented as dispassionately as possible, which is what a jury is supposed to do. And while I truly don't believe that cops will arrest just anyone, I do believe that they are under tremendous pressure to close cases and when any suspect shows up, they stop looking.

You don't have the option "not to talk in court" unless by doing so you would incriminate yourself, so yes. At that point you are saying that you are avoiding incriminating yourself, by definition.

You can always be subpoenaed and called up as a witness for trials not directly involving you. You can also be called up by the prosecution at your trial (which is where you'd typically plead). There wouldn't be much point in going up during your defense and then pleading.

They can force you to undergo questioning - cross examination in the case of the prosecution. If you feel your answer would incriminate you, you would plead the fifth.

Here's a run down on when you can plead the Fifth:
http://www.selfincrimination.org/pleadingthefifth.html

I've no other interest in the site, but it looked to be fairly clear language. In the case of this thread, the relevant people pleading were subpoenaed before a legislative committee which isn't quite the same thing as a criminal trial.

And yeah, the fact that the resulting perception can be used to attack a prominent Republican likely adds to the reason why cooler heads haven't prevailed on this. I fully acknowledge that there's a possibility that this really was a plot for political revenge. But everything I've seen so far screams phony scandal.

It doesn't matter, because you missed the point. Real or not, the POINT of flogging this scandal for Democrats isn't what happened. Grow up, no one gives a **** what actually happened. The point is highlighting unfavorable parts of Cristie's personality then putting him under pressure to see if he reenforces the weaknesses you've highlighted. "Scandal" makes him look like a bully. Is he actually a bully? Turns out he is. There are hours of tape of him douchily playing a 9 year old tough guy with enemies and friends alike. "Scandal" makes him seem disloyal to freinds. Is he disloyal? Turns out he is. There weren't enough buses in Jersey to manage the tide of people he tried to throw under one.

Those things he did, the way he acted under pressure are what matters. It's not really particularly much worse if every allegation turns out to be true, the point was the perception that he's Dudley Dursley is what's going to stick. He can never be president now (not that he had much chance prior anyway) and it's quite possible enough damage as spilled over to the state GOP that they lose the next Gov election.

Well, obviously.