Peters accuses Key of Dotcom lies
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says Prime Minister John Key is lying about two key points in the Kim Dotcom affair: whether he discussed the accused pirate during a dinner with Warner Brothers executives in Los Angeles, and whether he knew about the GCSB's illegal surveillance before September 17.
"The prime minister pretends not to have known this person [Kim Dotcom], excepting he – a full seven months after Kim Dotcom got his residency and was starting in to his business – stopped off deliberately in LA for a dinner with the senior executives of Warner Brothers, an interest which, like others in Hollywood, we’re standing to lose hundreds of millions and possibly billions of dollars. Don’t tell me they never raised Kim Dotcom and the threat to them at those meetings. It’s incredible to believe," Mr Peters said on TV ONE's Q+A programme yesterday.
Later in the interview, when it was put to him that John Key said he wasn’t told about the GCSB's unlawful Kim Dotcom wiretaps until September 17, Mr Peters said, "I don’t believe that. Unless he said, ‘Look, my deal with you, Mr English, is better you don’t tell me'."
No Robin Hood
Mr Peters stressed that although he was pressing the government over the Megaupload case, he was no fan of Kim Dotcom.
"Kim Dotcom, I think, is going to be lining up the New Zealand taxpayer for a lot of money [with a compensation claim], and we’re all gonna pay to someone who should never have been allowed to get into this country in the first place, who bought his way in, who didn’t survive, for example, the body-mass fat index.
"All that was ignored just because he was someone with money. It’s revolting. And it’s made us look like a joke. I know a lot of people out there think that he’s a hero. But here’s another bit. If you were a writer or a song writer and he stole your property, would you think him such a Robin Hood now?"
Mickey Mouse image
The NZ First leader maintained the Megaupload case had dented New Zealand's international image.
"Let me tell you this. Offshore we’re regarded as a Mickey Mouse joke now by the United States, and I believe Australia as well, and the other fallout from that is that those countries to whom we used to say ‘Look, we can’t be heavied,’ and I won’t name those countries, who want us to do things, will now say ‘yes, you can’," Mr Peters said.
Speaking on the same show, Foreign Minister Murray McCully, speaking live via satellite, said the case had not come up during his current trip to the US.
"I haven’t heard a single word about the issue since I got to the United States. That’s the honest answer," Mr McCully said.
Watch the full interview here.
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Comments and questions44
Kim Dotcom has been treated shabbily by those who Winston Peters and so many of the public believe at fault in NZ (and Hollywood puppets) and so far our judiciary are proving unusually resilient for what I am certain is extraordinary pressure by the powers that be to move the problem elsewhere. I have no doubt that John Key is being untruthful on the matters accused of and for no other reason than a man convicted of nothing in this country can be robbed of all his wealth before any court judgement, I hope Kim Dotcom sues big time !
Sweet, you can pay my portion of the bill if he sues since your so happy about it.
Winston for Prime Minister
Go Winnie
welcome back winnie
As an aside I would like to mention that for me Members of Parliament are servants to the public and have become so through the election process. It should be seen as an honour to serve hence what continually insults me is how they can answer " no comment." and there was plenty of this surrounding these events with Dot.com
As a teacher how would it look if a parent asked me how their child could better manage class situations in learning and what was I doing about it and I was to answer " no comment"
Wish you'd tell ya fellow teachers/ headmasters / union shrillers in the education sector that are trying to derail/stall the National Standards initiative - who deliberately don't participate.
But their come uppance will arrive soon enough...
Look, don't tell me John Key is telling the truth about this sordid business. He didn't know this, he wasn't told that -- what on earth! He's the PM, if he seriously expects us to buy this blind monkey nonsense he must have an opinion of New Zealanders that's lower than the Act Party ratings in the polls. If you want the big job and with it the status and big bucks, you need to be accountable, not forever excusing yourself and blaming those a lot lower on the totem pole. Let me tell you, Mr Key's showing his true colours regularly these days, and it's not the blue of the National Party, it's yellow!
Key has come out saying it was due to one individual having a massive brain fade. Absolute rubbish - there would be at least 20 people working on this case in the GCSB and SIS and if they were trained properly would all know they can't spy on this guy.
We therefore have 4 scenarios: 1) They are not trained properly - we need an inquiry to find out why. 2) None of them knew Kim Dotcom was a NZ resident when 95% of New Zealanders did. - We need an inquiry to find out why they are so stupid. 3) The system is such they can’t and don’t question authority – need an inquiry to fix the system and abuses of power. 4) They don't care for the rules because they are so secret no-one would ever find out - definitely need an inquiry for that carry on. 5)John Key, the FBI and foreign corporate powers have force them to break the rules - need an inquiry to find out why Key is so stupid!
One can only conclude we need an independent inquiry!
My faith in the NZ justice system has been renewed the New Zealand Police have done a botched job on there investigation of Kim Dotcom
in a hurry to please the FBI im just glad there was a Judge that could see they didnt do there home work and found there search warrant to be invalid and John Key must have known there should be an inquiry
And where are the morals and high standards now Johnny boy?
Abandoned long ago in an Epsom cafe I'd say.
Why, Dotcom? The Anti-piracy IFPI report. shows Dotcom is basically stuck between the law. He's innocent peters, have a read of the IFPI report. in front of Mega are Filesonic, WUpload and Fileserve. All three of those sites are currently accessible on the Web. At number four, still ahead of Mega, is 4shared.com, which still allows users to upload and distribute files. All US based companies never been raided.
Vote Green!
The leaked IFPI anti-piracy report backs Dotcom innocent. proving his case to sue. Hollywood. for failing bring down Filesonic.com, WUpload.com and Fileserve.com. All three of those sites based in the United States, currently accessible on the Web, dont' get raided? At number four on the IFPI report is 4shared.com. what a screwed up.
Free Dotcom Now!
I used to think we had the most honest, genuine politicians in the world. Now I see I was a fool.
And we only found out because Dotcom had money. Otherwise we would never have known how corrupt and how far up the food chain this sucking up to the US goes. Very scarey.
What I love about this case is the fact that they chose Dotcom ONLY because he was high profile...
One would think if you want a high profile case you would have your ducks lined up right.
UK and US are far worse, yet very few people know about the rigging of the Libor Rate, and Facebook ipo. genuine austrian economics. vote Green.
Mr. Peters may or may have one or more valid points concerning Mr. Key’s internal alleged cover-up concerning the Dotcom case however, this whole matter has become completely out of control. Spying, improper search/seizure, immigration status, who signed what and when, the police trampling the flowers at the rented Dotcom home…these things are not an issue with the USA. While the Dotcom case may have exposed the bumbling mistakes of New Zealand’s incompetent legal system and lack of leadership over such a case as this one, numerous people have forgotten the basics here.
Dotcom is not on trial here. In accordance with the Extradition Treaty established along time ago between the USA and New Zealand, the United States Department of Justice has filed, in Court here, for Dotcom’s extradition to the USA. The US Government is not the slightest bit interested in local NZ Police mistakes or NZ Governmental blunders. As Mr. Peters points out, it’s quite clear to the US Government that the NZ legal system is incapable of dealing with complicated international matters. The mishandling of the Dotcom case has not only made NZ look bad but it’s looking more like we, as taxpayers, are going to have to pay millions of our money to pay for the blundering mistakes by Key, English and the local police. Improper legal procedures here in NZ are an internal matter and of no interest to anyone else. Furthermore, the US Dept. of Justice is not legally obligated to hand over all evidence outside of Court to Dotcom’s Defense team outside of the USA. It’s a matter to be decided in the US Federal Court system and not the NZ super market tabloids. The USA has filed for Dotcom’s extradition. I say extradite him to face the Federal charges in the USA. If he is really is Robin Hood and he’s innocent…he’ll go free.
And you think he'll get a fair trial in the US???
"If he is really is Robin Hood and he’s innocent…he’ll go free."
Yeah - thats a plan lets give dotcom to the Sheriff of Hollywood and see if justice previals
- you idiot !
Exactly !
"You have nothing to fear. This is only a list, nothing to worry about, go about your business" .. yeah right, tell that to the Jews in pre-war Germany.
Problem is that Copyright offences are not an extraditable offense under our treaty with the USA. That is why they cooked up racketeering and money laundry to get around the limitations of our treaty. This point is well understood by our Judicary and mentioned in both District Court & High Court rulings in Dotcom's favour. A big question needs to be answered if the USA can create charges out of thin air just to circumvent our extradition treaty.
The New Zealand court is well within its powers to demand the USA provide MR Dotcom all information that was illegally seized in the illegal raid on his home. Crown law is currently acting for the USA in the NZ Appeals Court trying to argue they don't have to abide by lower District & High Court rulings because USA law overrides NZ law. Our judges have to date told Crown Law (the USA representives) that NZ laws will be followed in this country & if they want an extradition at all the USA must do what they are told & abide by the rulings of NZ Courts.
After what we have seen to date we just don't trust the US, nor our lot to do what is right.
The PM ordered the surveillance and the raid and is now ducking for cover and looking for scapegoats. The smiling, bashful Mr Key, considered his party's biggest asset in his first term is now a growing liability as his mask has slipped off to reveal the ruthless, sneering and unethical money trader that he has always been. Good to see some people are waking up to this basic truth about the PM. In the medium to longer term the National Party is pretty much finished as a credible force on NZ's political stage.
There's some plausibility there: what GSCB did was silly, but the police or SIS could have done the same eavesdropping lawfully if they had bothered to ask. It isn't of the seriousness that requires a prime ministerial apology, especially as it could well be a stay-out-of-jail free card for Mr Dotcom where the merits of his defence, rather than the merits of his legal team, seem rather weak. So I see it more as a way for Mr Key to deflect attention from the Banks saga and curry favour with the younger faction who idolise our own internet pirate.
I suspect Keys does not want an enquiry and apologised to stop any more information surfacing. However there will be a court case over false arrest etc unlike no other and all the gory details will emerge.
The only thing that has hurt NZ's reputation is their government and how they handled the investigation and arrest of Kim Dotcom. They've got no one to thank, but themselves. If Kim Dotcom does decided to sue, that too will be the fault of the NZ government. Maybe it's time for the people of NZ to elect a leader that won't expose them to law suits.
Thanks Winston, you are the ONLY TRUE politician.
Winnie would know a fib or 2 - he's a master himself. now about the Owen Glenn money....
Farmer Jack - you need someone to hit you around the common sense with Winnie's "NO" sign... and there's ya answer!
Winnie has a very short memory,he is also the greatest opportunist NZ has,he has cost the country a fortune with the Winebox Inquiry.He said he was going to do this and going to do that.What Happened ? Nothing
Sorry ,I have got no time for him
Winston Peters is the only MP with the guts to bring these large scale rorts of the taxpayers wealth to the attention of the public.
The winebox exposed how unethnical individuals and companies were rorting NZ of hundreds of millions of tax. If Peters hadnt exposed this, it would still be happening.
Politics and being elected is all about being popular, nothing about policy, more to do with self interest...This has worked for Jonkey, who bought into it....
I think you'll find Peters has cost NZ alot less than Jonkey. NZ can not afford the not to tax the higher incomes, in these times. GST is a consumption tax and if people stop sending the tax take goes down....
This is serious. I am in danger of agreeing with something Winston said. I think I'll have a lie down.
Mr Peters, you may want to lend Mr Key your 'No' sign?
So Peters says JK is lying. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I know which of the two I would chose to believe!
Me too - NEITHER.
Must be nearing election time ,for winny to emerge on any talk or media show to raise his profile .Hes still milking the tax payer for his past .......And taking supper anuation .as well as parlimentary privilages.
Winny mentions Dotcom can cost the tax payer ,well if going by news media that .com has a large income then i'm sure he more than gives back huge amont of taxes himself. Not for getting all the workers he employs who can stay off the dole and pay their taxes . GO Dotcom .
Why did it take the gcsb a month to find where Mr Dotcom lived when half the country knew? if they were unsure they could have asked John Banks.
I've met dot com,sure the guys fat.
But one thing I was impressed with was the way he treated his wife and kids,always a measure of a man.
I'd say by now everyone can see he's been shafted,and if he has a go at the Nz government fair enough!
The rate that he spent money,at I'd hundreds of thousands dollars per week.
He's worth having here just for the GST take alone!
Need another couple of hundred big spenders just like him!
Dot Com is innocent of these charges he sells harddrive space not content.
Based on the banality of many of the comments, I am begining to wonder why I bother to subscribe to NBR Online. Clearly, most of the commentators are trolls, or employees of subscribers who have nothing better to do than post silly comments, which say more about the posters than the issues.
looks like you are #40 in line with all the other comments Linsay
Just wait for the next Dotcom-sponsored Wikileaks dump and we'll soon see who in government has been telling porkies.
I think we should all loudly applaud the National Business Review for keeping this commentary page open to the general public to give us a rare chance to share and voice our opinions. Obviously this tNBR aricle has stimulated a lot of people into at least thinking about what is going on with our Nation....good work NBR!