washingtonpost.com
First Amendment Heroine Picks Up Awards
By Lloyd Grove
Washington Post Staff Writer
Houston freelance writer Vanessa Leggett, who spent 168 days in that city's federal detention center after she refused to give her notes about a sensational murder-for-hire to federal prosecutors, is in Washington to be honored by the Washington Independent Writers tomorrow night.
The 33-year-old First Amendment heroine, whom a federal judge jailed for contempt of court, stood her ground and was released in January when the grand jury disbanded.
Leggett promptly snagged a major book deal – reportedly for $600,000, but Leggett wouldn't say – from Crown Publishing Group for "The Murder of the Bookie's Wife," which is due out in 2004. Understandably, she's taking the pending murder trial of millionaire bookie Robert Angleton very seriously. He's charged with the alleged contract killing of his wife Doris Angleton – who was found at their home in 1997, shot 13 times in the head and chest.
Where, we asked Leggett, are her famous notes? "I don't think it would be prudent to tell anyone where my notes are, not while the government has threatened to issue a search warrant," she said. So if there were a movie, who would she want to play her? "I have no idea, I just want to get my book finished. I have no idea. I mean I think the story has merits without me and that's why I chose to write about it. I would be considering who play my characters not me," she said. "The focus is on the murder."
The victim's husband, 53, was acquitted in a state court trial. But federal prosecutors – arguing that Angleton violated interstate commerce laws in allegedly hiring his brother to kill his wife – brought new charges on what they said was evidence not available during the earlier trial.
As for the book, Leggett told us: "I was talking to an agent who thought my story would sell before going to jail. The government has expanded my audience." We wondered if going to jail is a good PR move. "If anyone did that, that would be insane," she replied. "All authors want publicity, but not from jail."
How was the food behind bars? "It was institutional. I gained weight. I think they load their foods with sodium and carbohydrates so people look like they're doing well," she said.
Leggett has been cooperating with the prosecution – she has shared information in which her sources have not requested confidentiality. But she could be jailed again if she refuses to reveal further information at the trial.
Tomorrow's award isn't the only one Leggett has received. She picked up the Herb Block First Amendment Award on Monday. "It's quite an honor to be recognized in this way," she said. "When I was first incarcerated I didn't know if anyone would understand my situation. I think the Washington Independent Writers is particularly sensitive to the issues in my case because a lot of people think I was targeted because of my freelance status. I think many were concerned that this might be the harbinger of restrictions on independent writers and that there would be degrees of journalism in that a writer for The Washington Post, for example, would be protected whereas a freelancer would not."
The book is her first journalistic endeavor. She was formerly a lecturer in English and criminal justice at the University of Houston. "I feel like the way I've learned journalism," she said, "well, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else."
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