I was reading a CNN story about a guy who's going to jail -- essentially -- because he won't let the government into his finances to verify that some money he claims he "lost in international investments" was actually lost. You see, he was in the middle of a divorce, and his ex-wife claims he was hiding the assets.
But here's the trick, see. He tells the court "I lost it," but doesn't give them the authorization to go traipsing through the data themselves. In other words, he asserts his rights not to be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.
Since international money-laundering like the wife suggests happened would be a criminal act, the guy is -- quite rightly -- refusing to give the government the evidence it needs to convict him. Go. Fucking. Figure.
But, since he won't waive his fifth amendment rights, he sits in jail on contempt charges. His contemptuous act : not helping the government make a case against him.
Is there any constitutional provision still being enforced? No? Didn't think so, just checking.
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