Frederick's "Black Book" Finally Released to News-Post and AP

The Frederick News-Post and The Associated Press took possession of the black book documents safeguarded by the court in a public storage facility since March when the city’s mayor Jim Grimes, attempted to dispose of the evidence.

The documents include:

• More than 500 pages listing names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail accounts and brief descriptions of apparent sexual tastes, as well as dates of service spanning 1997 to 1999.

• Five computer disks containing client lists, client profiles, financial records and other data, including transcripts of electronic communications labeled as evidence by the Maryland State Police Computer Crime Unit.

• Three black binders with detailed financial records from the defunct call girl business, Corporate Affair Referral Service, and a related Internet pornography site.

• Nine plastic trash bags stuffed with shredded papers.

Circuit Court Judge G. Edward Dwyer Jr. signed the order releasing the documents to the news organizations and Thurmont resident Daniel Trey, who also sued the city for access under the Maryland Public Information Act.

Dwyer protected private citizens from being exposed as clients of the high-priced call girl service. He prohibited the publication of any names other than those of public officials and public figures.

The condition on the publication of names delayed the release of the documents for two days when the news organizations initially declined to agree with it.

Henry Abrams, an attorney representing The News-Post and AP, objected to the restriction and said it constituted prior restraint on the news organizations’ right to publish, possibly in violation of the First Amendment.

Dwyer said he included the restriction because Abrams, in an earlier hearing, had said the news organizations intended to publish only the names of public officials and public figures.

Mike Powell, managing editor of The News-Post, said the newspaper would consider challenging the restriction.

The black book files, which include client lists seized by city police from confessed madam Angelika Potter’s call girl business in July 1999, name at least one city official.

In the Oct. 23 ruling that granted media access, Dwyer said the administration improperly concealed the information. The ruling also granted access to the rest of the black book file currently held by the city, although that action was delayed while the city appeals the ruling.

Mayor-elect Jennifer Dougherty, who assumes office Jan. 10, 2002, said she will urge the administration to drop the appeal and end the black book saga by giving all the evidence to the media.

- from reports in The Frederick News-Post and Washington Post