Of tweets and trials

[Sam Riddle] is, by any measure, an outspoken and colorful character. For example, before he was indicted, but knowing he was under investigation, Riddle consented to a television interview to answer questions about his alleged involvement in the bribery scheme. Riddle offered a number of attention-grabbing sound bites in the course of the interview, such as his observation that "[t]he only difference between Detroit and third world nations - where corruption is concerned - is the goats in the street." Little wonder, perhaps, that the exchange began with the interviewer saying, "Sam, I don't know if you're crazy or ignorant or both, but we thank you for being here live with us today."8 The day after the order was entered, Riddle posted this message: "I Will Continue to Speak Out, Stay Tuned. If Feds Can Shut Me Down On Facebook and Twitter, You May Be Next." And he offered this message as well: "I will continue to speak out within 1st Amendment Guaranties Even If It Means Jail - If I Can't Twitter- You May Be Next." He also circulated links to online newspaper reports on the order along with the question "Does 1st Amend Matter?"19 After his trial began in late January, however, tweets began to appear that may or may not have related to the case. Some of the posts were fairly oblique: "When we choose to speak truth to power, life prevails."21 "Today Has Been Brutal."22 "No matter what the risk may be, there comes a time when a person must speak for themselves to answer bullcrap & scurrilous lies."23 "Another 'Deal With It' day."24 "The First Amendment Lives With Facebook."25 Other posts, however, were considerably more pointed. After several days of trial, Riddle posted the observation that "[fjear of jail will make some lie."26 As the trial proceeded, Riddle, on his second set of attorneys and still dissatisfied with his legal counsel, posted, "When lawyers say they are operating with your best interests at heart - worry" and "Until today I never understood the true depth that ineffective counsel could achieve."27 When the jury deadlocked, he posted, "Justice is on hold" and "The Power Of The Individual In America Must Never Be Under-Estimated Or Trivialized - For the Power Of One Is Mighty Indeed!"28 These posts certainly appeared to relate to the trial, but the United States did not bring a motion to hold Riddle in contempt for violation of the order, and Judge [Cohn] did not do so sua sponte.29