Long before Gephardt threw his hat into the ring for the Democratic nomination, Judicial Watch filed a suit against him, alleging that Congressman Gephardt and others assaulted Bill Federer, Gephardt’s campaign opponent in 2000.

During a St. Louis parade on October 7, 2000, Gephardt aide James Larrew, allegedly at the direction of Gephardt, stalked Mr. Federer and then provoked a confrontation with him in order to gain a public relations advantage in what had been a tightly contested race. As Mr. Federer passed by, Larrew stepped into his path and swung a video camera within inches of Mr. Federer’s face. He then stepped on Mr. Federer¹s foot and shoved him with his elbow.

Gephardt and his campaign staff then manufactured a frivolous assault charge against Mr. Federer, and used Gephardt’s influence to push it through the Democrat-controlled legal system in order to further damage Mr. Federer’s reputation. A jury recently acquitted Mr. Federer of all charges, taking less than 35 minutes to return the verdict.

In May 2002, Judicial Watch filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court in St. Louis against Gephardt, his chief political advisor, Joyce A. Abboussie, and Larrew in connection with this same incident, charging them with assault, civil rights violations, abuse of process, and other civil wrongdoings. Aboussie is Gephardt’s national political advisor and a paid member of Gephardt’s congressional staff, currently earning approximately $130,000 per year in that capacity.

In addition to the staged assault, Judicial Watch alleges that Gephardt’s campaign staff orchestrated a series of break-ins at Mr. Federer’s home and office during the campaign.

"One jury has spoken: Bill Federer is an innocent man, falsely accused by a Gephardt political machine that sought to have him jailed. Now, Judicial Watch will bring this case before another jury, seeking legal damages for Gephardt¹s abuse of the legal system," stated JW Chairman Larry Klayman.