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VZLA Attorney General
in phone-tapping allegations as
Congressional critique flares over refusal to answer
Parliamentary questions on Criminal Process Law
-- report by VHeadline.com © correspondent Patrick J. O'Donoghue --

VHeadline.com: Friday, March 27, 1998 -- A major political row has flared over alleged phone-tapping by Venezuela's Attorney General, Ivan Dario Badell and his refusal to appear before a House of Representatives' Committee of Inquiry to answer questions about an alleged disinformation campaign attacking the new Criminal Process Law.

Sources believe there's a general consensus among congressmen to penalize the Attorney General, even though Congress has no power to dismiss him from office. The Accion Democratica parliamentary faction prefers an honorable solution, while the rest definitely are pushing for Badell's dismissal.

The new General Director of the Attorney General's Office, Antonio Angrisano defended his boss on the accusations of former General Director Guido Bolivar who alleges Badell ordered the State Political & Security police (Disip) to tap his phone. Badell had asked for Bolivar's resignation on Wednesday night allegedly because of "unsurmountable differences on policy and procedure."

"At no moment did Attorney General Badell order the Disip to listen in on Bolivar's phone conversations." says Angrisano.

"Whether the Disip infringed the law off their own bat, and without the requisite consent and/or permission of Attorney General Badell is another matter which has to be investigated."

Patria Para Todos (PPT) Congressman, Alexis Rosas has asked the congressional Interior Policy committee to open an investigation into the affair. "If the accusations are true, then the Attorney General has broken the law and is in deep trouble."