Peter Robinson - The Tribunal

I observed Anderson and Vacinovic get into Anderson’s car and drive off. Anderson thereafter engaged in counter surveillance driving, circling the same block and making quick turns. This is a common method of determining if one is being followed.

Anderson and Vacinovic were thereafter observed meeting at a restaurant in the central area of The Hague owned by a reputed member of the Serbian underworld. After the meeting, Anderson again engaged in counter surveillance driving, so as to lose anyone who might be following. I was unable to follow Anderson, but other investigators observed the pair arrive at the Serbian Embassy.

Once back at the Embassy, Investigator Allen Jacobson observed Anderson take a heavy box from the trunk of his car and hand it to Vacinovic. The box was identical in appearance to one that had been provided to Anderson by the company that had copied the discovery. It was also identical to the boxes that Anderson delivered to the jail earlier in the day. Investigator Jacobson observed Vacinovic carrying the box into the Embassy.

About an hour later, Vacinovic was observed carrying the same box to the Post Office. I requested the Post Office hold the box so that it could be searched once a court order was obtained. The box is addressed to one Mihajlo Golic in Belgrade, Serbia.

A review of the financial authorization forms filed by Anderson with the Tribunal revealed that no investigator had been retained by Anderson. Therefore, it appears that Anderson has violated the terms of the protective order, and that a search of the box seized at the Post Office, the Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro, and Anderson’s office and home is necessary to locate additional protected material and to find additional evidence of the conspiracy to violate the Court’s protective order by Anderson, Vacinovic, and others.

The affidavit was approved and submitted to the Court by Bradford Stone.

Kevin felt a wave of relief. They had gotten their facts wrong. He had not delivered any materials subject to the protective order to Vacinovic. Golic was Kevin’s investigator, and the prison had a letter to prove it. He had enclosed a letter in the box directing Golic not to copy the materials. Kevin had even kept a log of the copies he had distributed, as required by the Tribunal. And as for his “counter surveillance driving,” he had driven the way he had that day because he was lost, not to avoid being followed.

Then, a surge of anger welled up inside Kevin. These heavy-handed prosecutors had no right to invade his home and scare his family. “Could you come over here, Mr. Anderson?” Wells was sitting at the dining room table with materials from Kevin’s briefcase spread out before him. “This is a very serious matter, Mr. Anderson. I need to ask you some questions.”

“This is a very serious matter,” Kevin said. “You have stormed into my home at night like the Gestapo, scared my family to death, and rummaged through privileged attorney-client papers. And you’re dead wrong. I followed the protective order to the letter. I’ve got nothing more to say to you.”

Wells shook his head. “If that’s the way you want it, counselor. We’ll be seeing you in court.”

“No, I’ll be seeing you in court.”

Wells and his troops left a few minutes later, taking all the documents with them.

“Don’t worry,” Kevin told Diane and Ellen, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

He explained to them what was in the affidavit and what he had actually done.

“What are you going to do, Daddy?”

“Well, I think I’ll file some kind of emergency motion tomorrow morning and see if I can get the judge to order the return of all the papers they took. After that – I don’t know – maybe we’ll sue them for home invasion.” He couldn’t believe how much like a defense lawyer he was sounding.

Diane was still shaken. “This isn’t like America, Kevin. These people at the Tribunal have more power than you. Be careful .”

“I will, honey. And you’re right; they have way too much power.”

Diane and Kevin let Ellen sleep with them in their bed that night. After Ellen had fallen asleep, Kevin got up and went back downstairs. He spent the next few hours drafting his emergency motion on his computer. He recounted segregating the discovery, and explained his so-called “counter surveillance” driving. He demanded return of all of the items seized, as well as Draga’s release from confinement as a sanction.

At some point, Diane appeared, and offered to make them tea.

With steaming cups in hand, they sat at the kitchen table, speaking in hushed tones in the quiet and darkened house.

“I’m sorry that I brought this home to you and Ellen,” Kevin said sadly.

“You know, all along I’ve thought that you were on the wrong side,” Diane said. “But after what happened tonight – my God, these people are scary. If they can make you look guilty in their reports and investigation, what can they do to other people?”

“This whole thing was a mistake. We should have stayed home.”

“There was a time I would have liked to hear that. But now, you’ve got to do your job. If you believe your client is innocent – ”

“I can’t know that for sure, Diane. Nothing is black and white around here.”

“Okay, but do what you have to do. I’m here with you – and for you.”

Kevin was remembering why he had fallen in love with Diane.

He reached out to touch her cheek. She intercepted his hand and kissed it.

At breakfast, Ellen asked, “Daddy, are the policemen going to come back?”

“I don’t think so. And today, I’m going to make them sorry for what they did.”

“I can come with you to court today,” Ellen said excitedly. “I can be a witness.”

“No,” Diane said quickly and emphatically.

“Maybe you can come another day,” Kevin said. “I’d like that.”

“Okay. I wanna see you kick butt at Draga’s trial,” Ellen replied enthusiastically.

Kevin laughed, and so did Diane. He was glad to see that the nocturnal visit from the police had not taken any of the spunk out of their daughter.

Kevin showered and dressed. There would be no time for his usual jog this morning. As he sat down for breakfast, he flipped on CNN. A picture of Draga appeared.

“Tensions are running high today in Serbia and Montenegro,” the announcer said, “after the search last evening of their Embassy in The Hague by investigators from the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal.”

Kevin motioned for Diane and Ellen to look.

“Court officials claim that Kevin Anderson, an American lawyer for the infamous Serbian warlord Draga, passed confidential information to an Embassy official about Muslim witnesses whose identity has been kept secret for fear they would be killed.”

A picture of Kevin was beamed on the television.

Kevin groaned.

“This morning, leaders of the Serbia and Montenegro government announced that they had expelled the Ambassador from The Netherlands in protest.”

The announcer went on to the next news story.

“Wow, Daddy, you’re on CNN!” Ellen exclaimed. “I hope my friends at home saw that.”

“That’s not exactly the kind of publicity I want,” Kevin said, wondering what his former colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s office would be thinking.

When Kevin rode his bike near the Tribunal building, he could see news cameras set up outside the guardhouse. “Do you expect to be arrested, Mr. Anderson?” shouted a reporter as Kevin approached the Tribunal guardhouse.

“Not at all. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

The news cameras were rolling as Kevin stopped in front of the guardhouse.

Six or seven reporters gathered around Kevin.