To: Jeffrey S. Mitchell who wrote (92711 ) 10/8/2005 9:55:05 PM From: Kevin Podsiadlik Read Replies (1) | Respond to FWIW, a mutual acquaintence sent me this telling of Tony's side of the story regarding the airport arrest. I don't know entirely how close this is to the story as Tony would tell it, but I expect it's close.fly home to San Diego two days before he had permission to do so. He had an airline travel coupon that expired earlier than he originally thought, and could not afford to waste it. Found on his person was a massive amount of valium, xanax, and morphine. "Self medication" is an understatement. My first concern when I heard of his arrest was that he would die from withdrawal within the first few days in jail. He had become terrified to be Tony anymore, and wanted to be anyone but who he was. Would anyone else in those shoes not feel the same way? Was it wrong, and a violation of rules that he simply was unable to accept? Absolutely, but an indictment of this magnitude with the additional allegations of 9-11 involvement methodically placed a vice-like grip over every part of his life until he couldn't eat, sleep, think or even breathe without pharmaceutical assistance. Overnight he was stripped of all possessions, assets, saw his family slip away, his friends were alienated from him and some were actually told by the government to stay away from him. The unrelenting, crushing pressure put upon his mind and spirit is impossible to describe to anyone who hasn't felt it themselves, and a few moments assuming the identity of an unknown, untargeted man is sometimes all that stood between him and insanity. GOING HOME two days early."
