A.M. Briefing: Steele isn't tight-lipped

There has been a lot of coverage of Sagle resident and attorney Edgar J. Steele in The Press recently. And there’s good reason for that.

What readers haven’t been able to get a glimpse of in all the pictures The Press has published is an image of Steele in U.S. District Court, and that’s because cameras aren’t allowed in the federal courtroom. Tape recording isn’t allowed in the federal courtroom either.

But, if readers could be in the courtroom they’d see and hear Steele doing plenty of talking, whether speaking to U.S. District Court Judge Candy W. Dale, or in side conversations with attorneys and court officials, or gesturing to family in the gallery.

Whether near a microphone or not he’s easy to hear.

Dale has told Steele several times that anything he says in court can be used against him. He reminds the judge he knows his rights. Apparently he’d prefer to speak anyway.

He did represent himself as his own attorney this week. So maybe the behavior will change when he has someone representing him.

It can’t be said Steele is having a good time and enjoying his time in court, and possibly the publicity, and drama. But so far from what’s been going on in court it can’t be said either that he’s not enjoying it all, having his day in court.

Stay tuned, this will undoubtedly be an interesting case to follow. Steele has a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday. He’ll have a chance to explain, himself or through an attorney, why his no-bail detention should be changed. - David Cole