What’s My Line?

Below is the affidavit filed by Willie Jessop in the Utah Supreme Court in support of The FLDS Church’s Petition for Extraordinary Writ.   If I have time later, I can really have fun with this.  For now, let’s briefly look at Willie’s affidavit compared to statements he has previously made under oath.

 

Right out of the gate, Willie steps up and identifies exactly who he is and who he “represents”:

“I a member and duly authorized representative of the Petitioner Association, which comprises an informal association of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the “FLDS Church” or the “Church”). I am also a member in good standing of the FLDS Church, and a beneficiary of the United Effort Plan Trust, which is the subject of this action.”

1. FLDS member
2. “duly authorized representative” of FLDS
3. Member of the UEP beneficiary class

Is that the same thing as “spokesman”?   Just curious because Willie doesnt mention who authorized him and what they authorized him to do on their behalf.   I’m pretty sure Willie tried to pull this stunt when he and Shurtleff were palling around and making settlement proposals in the UEP probate case.   I’m pretty sure also Judge Lindberg addressed that squarely when she said she has seen no evidence that Willie is a representative of anything with any authority to represent anyone or bind them contractually or otherwise.

It’s also odd that in Utah Willie is a “duly authorized representative” but in Texas he’s just Willie Jessop and doesn’t speak for anyone or have any authority to act for anyone else…at least that’s what he said under oath to  the House Human Services Committee of the Texas legislature.

But in his deposition in January, he couldnt answer those questions because the answer would have incriminated him on some unknown criminal offense ranging from witness tampering to money laundering and everything in between:

Q. In your dealings with litigation involving the UEP who do you represent?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: Upon advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer and invoke his right remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon the fact that there are ongoing criminal investigations being conducted by both the state and federal government.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Are you refusing to answer based on the instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

 

Q. Who gave you the authority to represent anyone in UEP litigation?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: Upon advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer that question and invoke his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon ongoing criminal investigations which are being conducted by both the state and federal government.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Are you refusing to answer based on instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

 

Q. Okay. Are you asking for affirmative relief in litigation concerning the UEP?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: Upon advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer that question and invoke his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon ongoing criminal investigations by the federal and state government.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Are you refusing to answer based on the instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

 

Q. Are you a member of the beneficiary class of the UEP trust?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: Upon on advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer and invoke his right to remain silent under Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon ongoing criminal investigations by federal and state authorities.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Are you refusing to answer based on the instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

 

Q. Okay. Do you know how to identify who is a member of the beneficiary class of the UEP trust?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: Upon advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer and invokes his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. He is doing so because of ongoing criminal investigations by both federal and state government.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Are you refusing to answer based on the instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

 

Q. Okay. Has any — has any particular person given you authority to represent them in litigation involving the UEP trust?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: Upon advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer and invoke his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon criminal investigations by federal and state government.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Are you refusing to answer based on instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

.  .  .

 

Q. Okay. Are you associated with the FLDS religious organization?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: At this point, upon advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer and invoke his rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and remain silent — he’s -= as well as the Texas Constitution, but he’s doing so based on the fact that there are ongoing criminal

investigations being conducted by the state and federal government.

 

MS. MALONIS: Okay. Are you instructing him not to answer?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: I’m instructing him not to answer.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Okay. Are you not going to answer the question?

 

A. (By Willie Jessop)I will follow the legal advice of my counsel.

 

 

Q. Okay. Do you hold a position of authority within the FLDS community?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: On advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer that question and invoke his right to remain silent under Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon ongoing criminal investigations by both the state and federal government.

 

MS. MALONIS: Okay.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Do you refuse to answer based on the instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

 

Q. Do you have any decision-making power within –over the FLDS group in Texas?

 

MR. SCHAFFER: On advice of counsel Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer that question and invoke his right to remain silent pursuant to the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Texas Constitution. This is based upon ongoing criminal investigations by both state and federal government.

 

Q. (By Ms. Malonis) Okay. Do you refuse to answer based on the instruction of counsel?

 

A. Yes, ma’am.

What’s really going on here?

~ by FLDS TEXAS on October 21, 2009.