There Are Still Many Unanswered Questions About GOP IT Guru's Tragic Plane Crash

By Larisa Alexandrovna, Raw Story. Posted January 17, 2009.

His attorneys asserted that the request for documents was burdensome because the information sought should be "readily ascertainable through public records request" - but also, paradoxically, because "it seeks confidential, trade secrets, and/or proprietary information" that "have independent economic value" and "are not known to the public, or even to non-designated personnel within or working for Mr. Connell's business."

In calling for the judge to compel Connell to testify, plaintiffs cited recent security breaches in the computer system at the office of Ohio's Secretary of State, which were preceded by a barrage of threatening phone and email messages and death threats and which led to the state website temporarily being taken down Oct. 20. The plaintiffs used these events to suggest the possibility of Trojan horses or back doors in the system, which Connell had designed.

In addition, the plaintiffs’ attorneys provided information of alleged threats against Connell. These alleged threats and the alleged threats against the Ohio Secretary of State, resulted in the court issuing another subpoena compelling Connell’s testimony. The second subpoena was served Oct. 8 at the College Park Airport office when Connell flew in for the day for a meeting in DC.

On Nov. 3, 2008, Connell was finally deposed in the case.

It is uncertain what, if anything, Connell was prepared to confirm relating to alleged threats against him. Sources close to the case said that even if Connell had denied being threatened under oath, he would have had good reason to do so.

That part of the testimony is still sealed. Connell’s attorneys have not commented and forwarded all inquires to Ms. Connell.

Second Possible Aborted Flight – Unconfirmed

On November 21, roughly three weeks after Connell’s court testimony, a second flight appears to have been aborted. Unlike the Sept. 18 flight, there is no confirmation. The flight lasted 10 minutes before Connell turned his plane around.

As with the earlier aborted flight, Connell returned to the Akron-Canton Regional airport after a short time in the air. There has been no confirmation that this second flight was interrupted due to any suspicions on Connell’s part or any issues around the plane itself.

If this second flight was aborted, it may have been due to the alleged previous engine troubles that Mrs. Connell mentioned. On the other hand, a close friend of Connell’s who wished to remain unnamed explained that Connell could have simply taken someone for a ride that day or had a meeting, which was not uncommon.

It's this flight, however, that caused talk among Connell’s friends and family after his death, because no explanation has been provided as to if and why the flight was aborted.

Radar data shows almost a perfect circle, which bolsters the theory that Connell was taking someone for a ride.

The Nov. 21 flight was the last flight Connell made prior to his Dec. 19 crash.

See more stories tagged with: gop, karl rove, rnc, michael connell, it guru

Larisa Alexandrovna is managing editor of investigative news for Raw Story and regularly reports on intelligence and national security stories. Contact: larisa@rawstory.com.

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