Ex-AG Mandelblit Felt Journalist Ben Caspit Controlled Police
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in the Netanyahu trial, stating he asked police to stop contact with journalist Ben Caspit due to a feeling Caspit was operating the police. Mandelblit denied knowledge of senior police officials proactively seeking information on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Caspit. He also acknowledged a "glitch" in the wording of a warning given to Netanyahu during investigations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former AG Avichai Mandelblit asked police to stop contact with journalist Ben Caspit.
- Mandelblit felt journalist Ben Caspit was operating the police, not the other way around.
- Mandelblit denied senior police officials proactively sought information on PM Netanyahu from Caspit.
- The former AG acknowledged a "glitch" in the warning formulation given to Netanyahu.
- Mandelblit's testimony continued regarding approvals for investigations into Netanyahu's cases.
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in the Netanyahu trial on Wednesday, stating he asked the police to cease contact with journalist Ben Caspit. Mandelblit explained that he developed a feeling that "instead of the police investigating, he was operating the police." During the cross-examination by Amit Haddad, attorney for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mandelblit was questioned about the connection between Brigadier General Eran Kamin and Caspit regarding the initial suspicions in Case 1000.
Mandelblit asserted that a police officer cannot use a journalist as an extended arm, acknowledging that journalists conduct their own investigations. When asked by Haddad if he had requested the police to stop contact with Caspit, Mandelblit confirmed, "Yes, because I had a feeling that instead of the police investigating, he was operating the police."
Haddad further probed Mandelblit about Caspit's sources, inquiring if he knew that some of the journalist's sources included the Prime Minister's drivers. He also asked if Mandelblit had considered the possibility that information about Netanyahu's whereabouts and activities was being provided to the journalist in violation of the drivers' obligations. Mandelblit responded, "I don't remember exactly where his sources come from."
When Haddad claimed that the police proactively approached Caspit to gather information on the Prime Minister, even involving senior officials like Kamin, Mandelblit denied this, stating, "No, absolutely not." Haddad argued that proactive police information gathering on a prime minister requires the Attorney General's approval, to which Mandelblit agreed.
Mandelblit's testimony continued from previous sessions where he was questioned about approvals for investigations in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000. He recalled approving Netanyahu's investigation under caution for offenses related to integrity, but was unsure if he had approved the use of the term "bribery" in Case 4000. Mandelblit acknowledged that one of the warning formulations presented to Netanyahu was "convoluted" and agreed with Haddad's assessment that it was a "glitch."
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