[Joe Friday]

Former UN Arms Inspector & Bush-Basher Busted in Sex Sting
Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:12 AM
Jim Hoft

Former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter said his duty was to be one of the most vocal and visible critics of President Bush’s Iraq policy. (Common Dreams)
Former UN weapons inspector and Bush-basher Scott Ritter was busted for contacting a 15 year-old online and showing himself masturbating on a web camera.
The Pocono Record reported, via Free Republic:

A former chief United Nations weapons inspector is accused of contacting what he thought was a 15-year-old girl in an Internet chat room, engaging in a sexual conversation and showing himself masturbating on a Web camera.

Scott Ritter of Delmar, N.Y., who served as chief U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991-98 and who was an outspoken critic of the second Bush administration in the run-up to the war in Iraq, is accused of contacting what turned out to be a Barrett Township police officer posing undercover as a teen girl.

The police affidavit gives the following account:

Officer Ryan Venneman was posing as 15-year-old “Emily” in an online chat room when he was contacted by someone using the name “Delmarm4fun.” This person, later identified as Ritter, told “Emily” he was a 44-year-old male from Albany, N.Y.

“Emily” told Ritter she was a 15-year-old girl from the Poconos, at which point Ritter asked for a picture other than the one “Emily” had posted on her account. Ritter then sent her a link to his Web camera and began to masturbate on camera.

“Emily” asked Ritter for his cell phone number, which he provided.

Ritter again asked “Emily” how old she was. Told she was 15, Ritter said he didn’t realize she was 15 and turned off his webcam, saying he didn’t want to get in trouble.

Ritter told “Emily” he had been fantasizing about having sex with her, to which she replied: “Guess you turned it off …”

Ritter then said: “You want to see it finish,” reactivated his webcam and continued masturbating and ejaculated on camera.

The online conversation occurred in February 2009, but the investigation lasted until November.

Is that a WMD in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?

[TheRealVille]

Bruce Barclay, former Cumberland County commissioner, videotaped hundreds of sexual encounters — many with male escorts — using cameras hidden throughout his Monroe Township home.[18]

Matthew Joseph Elliott, former aide to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child.[19]

Vito Fossella, the only Republican member of Congress from New York City, admitted to police to having a child out-of-wedlock when stopped for drunk driving.[20]

Robert McKee, Republican delegate from Western Maryland, announced his resignation after authorities seized two computers, videotapes and printed materials from his Hagerstown home in a child pornography investigation. McKee also resigned his position as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County.[21]

Daniel Dean Thompson, 31, a Utah retailer of "family-friendly" tapes and DVDs (Hollywood films with the "dirty parts" removed), arrested and booked into the Utah County jail on charges of sexual abuse and unlawful sexual activity with a 14-year-old.[22]

Derek Walker, former Eagle Scout and candidate seeking the GOP nomination in a race for north-central Pennsylvania district, was charged with felony burglary and criminal trespass stemming from an encounter last year with an ex-girlfriend, during which he allegedly broke into her home and used his cell phone to videotape her engaged in an intimate moment with another man.

[Old School]

Bruce Barclay, former Cumberland County commissioner, videotaped hundreds of sexual encounters — many with male escorts — using cameras hidden throughout his Monroe Township home.[18]

Matthew Joseph Elliott, former aide to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child.[19]

Vito Fossella, the only Republican member of Congress from New York City, admitted to police to having a child out-of-wedlock when stopped for drunk driving.[20]

Robert McKee, Republican delegate from Western Maryland, announced his resignation after authorities seized two computers, videotapes and printed materials from his Hagerstown home in a child pornography investigation. McKee also resigned his position as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County.[21]

Daniel Dean Thompson, 31, a Utah retailer of "family-friendly" tapes and DVDs (Hollywood films with the "dirty parts" removed), arrested and booked into the Utah County jail on charges of sexual abuse and unlawful sexual activity with a 14-year-old.[22]

Derek Walker, former Eagle Scout and candidate seeking the GOP nomination in a race for north-central Pennsylvania district, was charged with felony burglary and criminal trespass stemming from an encounter last year with an ex-girlfriend, during which he allegedly broke into her home and used his cell phone to videotape her engaged in an intimate moment with another man.

.....and your point is??????? What does this have to do with Ritter??

[TheRealVille]

.....and your point is??????? What does this have to do with Ritter??

Just showing that people of all kinds and politics have freaks among them.

[Hoot Gibson]

Just showing that people of all kinds and politics have freaks among them.

Thanks! We had no idea that Ritter is not the first scumbag to get caught doing something illegal and disgusting like this. I am shocked.

[TheRealVille]

Thanks! We had no idea that Ritter is not the first scumbag to get caught doing something illegal and disgusting like this. I am shocked.

I didn't see you posting anything about anybody but a Bush basher though. You never seem to post stuff on the other side of the fence.

[Hoot Gibson]

I didn't see you posting anything about anybody but a Bush basher though. You never seem to post stuff on the other side of the fence.

This thread is not about anybody but Ritter. I guess I just do not understand why liberals are so quick to respond to bad news with the "Oh yeah, your guy is worse" defense. Character matters and a man who would lie to teenagers for sexual gratification has no credibility. Whatever truths that he might have told in the past just happened to be more convenient than lying.

Nobody is trying to smear all liberals because Ritter turned out to be a creep. Defending such people does nothing to convert people to your point of view and the "they did it too" reaction is a defense, albeit a weak one.

[Matman]

Bruce Barclay, former Cumberland County commissioner, videotaped hundreds of sexual encounters — many with male escorts — using cameras hidden throughout his Monroe Township home.[18]

Matthew Joseph Elliott, former aide to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child.[19]

Vito Fossella, the only Republican member of Congress from New York City, admitted to police to having a child out-of-wedlock when stopped for drunk driving.[20]

Robert McKee, Republican delegate from Western Maryland, announced his resignation after authorities seized two computers, videotapes and printed materials from his Hagerstown home in a child pornography investigation. McKee also resigned his position as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County.[21]

Daniel Dean Thompson, 31, a Utah retailer of "family-friendly" tapes and DVDs (Hollywood films with the "dirty parts" removed), arrested and booked into the Utah County jail on charges of sexual abuse and unlawful sexual activity with a 14-year-old.[22]

Derek Walker, former Eagle Scout and candidate seeking the GOP nomination in a race for north-central Pennsylvania district, was charged with felony burglary and criminal trespass stemming from an encounter last year with an ex-girlfriend, during which he allegedly broke into her home and used his cell phone to videotape her engaged in an intimate moment with another man.

I am quite disturbed by this response. I didn't think this was a Dem/Rep thread. Are you defending Ritter? Are you saying its Ok because some other dirt bags did the same thing? If anyone ever reads my post I mock the division of our country into two small groups and believe most people are a combination of things. However this is distrurbing that a "liberal" would rationalize Ritter's actions with this post. I think they are dirtbags in both parties. Most should be in prison not office. I will not defend a child molester no matter what his political beliefs are.

[Joe Friday]

I am quite disturbed by this response. I didn't think this was a Dem/Rep thread. Are you defending Ritter? Are you saying its Ok because some other dirt bags did the same thing? If anyone ever reads my post I mock the division of our country into two small groups and believe most people are a combination of things. However this is distrurbing that a "liberal" would rationalize Ritter's actions with this post. I think they are dirtbags in both parties. Most should be in prison not office. I will not defend a child molester no matter what his political beliefs are.

My point with this thread was to show what type of person Ritter is. What credibility does he have? I don't know 'Realville' but I believe that after reading some of his posts that he would definitely not try to rationalize a child molester's actions - just trying to show that there are pervs from the right side. Sometimes we hit a little hard on these political threads and I wanted to make sure we did not run anyone off.

[Matman]

My point with this thread was to show what type of person Ritter is. What credibility does he have? I don't know 'Realville' but I believe that after reading some of his posts that he would definitely not try to rationalize a child molester's actions - just trying to show that there are pervs from the right side. Sometimes we hit a little hard on these political threads and I wanted to make sure we did not run anyone off.

Some things are of greater importance than left vs right. The bigger picture shows us that we have people serving in offices and in positions of great importance that should not be there. Many of whom should not even be aloud in society. To me this discredits the man. Nothing he has said should be held to any reguard. Not because hes a liberal or a Bush Basher but because he is scum.

[Hoot Gibson]

Some things are of greater importance than left vs right. The bigger picture shows us that we have people serving in offices and in positions of great importance that should not be there. Many of whom should not even be aloud in society. To me this discredits the man. Nothing he has said should be held to any reguard. Not because hes a liberal or a Bush Basher but because he is scum.

:Thumbs: Well said. I feel the same way about Republican SC Gov. Mark Sanford, not because he had an affair but because he lied to his constituents when he flew out of the country to visit his mistress for several days. He violated the public's trust and anything that he says for the rest of his term should be taken with a grain of salt.

If pointing out the obvious fact that some behavior should not be viewed through a political prism is enough to "run off" another poster, then maybe they would be happier elsewhere.

I do wish that there were a few active Obama supporting posters who could make a rational case for Obama's left wing agenda. As it is, these threads are pretty one-sided with conservatives mostly just preaching to the choir.

[Joe Friday]

:Thumbs: Well said. I feel the same way about Republican SC Gov. Mark Sanford, not because he had an affair but because he lied to his constituents when he flew out of the country to visit his mistress for several days. He violated the public's trust and anything that he says for the rest of his term should be taken with a grain of salt.

If pointing out the obvious fact that some behavior should not be viewed through a political prism is enough to "run off" another poster, then maybe they would be happier elsewhere.

I do wish that there were a few active Obama supporting posters who could make a rational case for Obama's left wing agenda. As it is, these threads are pretty one-sided with conservatives mostly just preaching to the choir.

I find myself in the curious position of defending a lib :yikes: I do not believe "Realville" was trying to "rationalize Ritter's actions" as a child molestor - do you?

[Matman]

I find myself in the curious position of defending a lib :yikes: I do not believe "Realville" was trying to "rationalize Ritter's actions" as a child molestor - do you?

I do not believe he was defending the action of molesting a child. He was however defending Ritter. He attempted to diminish the severity of Ritter's charge by showing other examples. Examples that were committed by people that he assumes the OP sides with based on political party. He also attempted to make this into a Rep vs Dem arguement. However politics are alot broader than simple political parties. It should ultimately be broken down to what is right and what is wrong for both the individual, minority and the majority. This act by Ritter is beyound the spectrum covered by political party association. It does not matter what members of another party has done. It has nothing to do with this case. However Ritter's credibility should be in question.

[TheRealVille]

I am quite disturbed by this response. I didn't think this was a Dem/Rep thread. Are you defending Ritter? Are you saying its Ok because some other dirt bags did the same thing? If anyone ever reads my post I mock the division of our country into two small groups and believe most people are a combination of things. However this is distrurbing that a "liberal" would rationalize Ritter's actions with this post. I think they are dirtbags in both parties. Most should be in prison not office. I will not defend a child molester no matter what his political beliefs are.

No, I most definitely won't take up for anyone that molests kids. I think it was on thread here at BGR, that I said I would like to be a trigger man on punishing sexual predators. I was merely pointing out that their are very perverted people on both sides of the fence and all should be punished to the full extent of the law, whether they bash Bush or Obama makes no difference. My wife deals with these types of trash on a daily basis, but then again, someone on this board in just the last couple of days said they wished they would cut social services in this country. We can't be against finding and punishing child molesters and get rid of social services at the same time. The title of the OP made me think it was a political based thread and not about what was done to the kid. It looked like the thread was aimed at the guy just because he bashed Bush. That is the only reason I posted the examples of pervert on the other side. They are all trash.

[Hoot Gibson]

No, I most definitely won't take up for anyone that molests kids. I think it was on thread here at BGR, that I said I would like to be a trigger man on punishing sexual predators. I was merely pointing out that their are very perverted people on both sides of the fence and all should be punished to the full extent of the law, whether they bash Bush or Obama makes no difference. My wife deals with these types of trash on a daily basis, but then again, someone on this board in just the last couple of days said they wished they would cut social services in this country. We can't be against finding and punishing child molesters and get rid of social services at the same time. The title of the OP made me think it was a political based thread and not about what was done to the kid. It looked like the thread was aimed at the guy just because he bashed Bush. That is the only reason I posted the examples of pervert on the other side. They are all trash.

Ritter is best known for bashing Bush and as one of the primary sources for the media's criticism of Bush over the Iraq War. His arrests destroys his credibility, brings into question the veracity of some of the information that he presented, and made him newsworthy.

Copying and pasting a list of lesser known pieces of trash from the Daily Kos' wiki into your response really had nothing to do with the OP. I follow politics closely and I have never heard of any of the people that you listed. I will assume that the Daily Kos' descriptions of their transgressions are accurate but so what if they are???

The difference between most Kosers and most Republicans is that most Republicans rightfully condemn fellow Republicans when they run afoul of the law. The Kosers just circle the wagons and act like their man just jaywalked and then they spit out a list of Republicans who have done worse. Consequently, a Democrat like Barney Frank escapes the consequences of his actions election after election. Had Frank been a Republican, his name would have been obscure today as the ones in the Daily Kos list that you posted.

[Joe Friday]

Ritter is best known for bashing Bush and as one of the primary sources for the media's criticism of Bush over the Iraq War. His arrests destroys his credibility, brings into question the veracity of some of the information that he presented, and made him newsworthy.

Copying and pasting a list of lesser known pieces of trash from the Daily Kos' wiki into your response really had nothing to do with the OP. I follow politics closely and I have never heard of any of the people that you listed. I will assume that the Daily Kos' descriptions of their transgressions are accurate but so what if they are???

The difference between most Kosers and most Republicans is that most Republicans rightfully condemn fellow Republicans when they run afoul of the law. The Kosers just circle the wagons and act like their man just jaywalked and then they spit out a list of Republicans who have done worse. Consequently, a Democrat like Barney Frank escapes the consequences of his actions election after election. Had Frank been a Republican, his name would have been obscure today as the ones in the Daily Kos list that you posted.

I agree with the above. I also think Realville's stated reason for his original post is plausible.

[TheRealVille]

Ritter is best known for bashing Bush and as one of the primary sources for the media's criticism of Bush over the Iraq War. His arrests destroys his credibility, brings into question the veracity of some of the information that he presented, and made him newsworthy.

Copying and pasting a list of lesser known pieces of trash from the Daily Kos' wiki into your response really had nothing to do with the OP. I follow politics closely and I have never heard of any of the people that you listed. I will assume that the Daily Kos' descriptions of their transgressions are accurate but so what if they are???

The difference between most Kosers and most Republicans is that most Republicans rightfully condemn fellow Republicans when they run afoul of the law. The Kosers just circle the wagons and act like their man just jaywalked and then they spit out a list of Republicans who have done worse. Consequently, a Democrat like Barney Frank escapes the consequences of his actions election after election. Had Frank been a Republican, his name would have been obscure today as the ones in the Daily Kos list that you posted.

I agree, Ritter is a piece of trash and anything he says is not credible.

[Hoot Gibson]

I agree, Ritter is a piece of trash and anything he says is not credible.

:Thumbs: I never doubted that you believed otherwise. The next big kiddie porn scandal is just as likely to involve a well known Republican as a Democrat.

The UN has far more than their fair share of sex offenders on the payroll and Scott Ritter was one of them. One of the most under reported child sex scandals in history involved UN peace keepers in Africa. Hopefully, Ritter did not victimize any kids during his stay in Iraq.