And now Oprah can't even discuss her case. Cattle prices and futures fell temporarily. They got her to stop talking about the issue. This is the first test case of laws to muzzle critics that the agricultural industry has gotten passed in 13 states. A 1996 effort in Wisconsin failed but another attempt is expected.
Opponents claim such laws infringe free speech and the right to petition government for change.
Calls to the Oprah conglomerate for this article revealed that the U.S. district judge in Amarillo, Texas, imposed a gag order Dec. 19. She forbids all parties to communicate with the public if not approved by the court. Now Oprah and Howard Lyman not only can't talk about the dangers of mad cow disease, they can't even comment about being hauled into court. We lobbied against it in the Wisconsin Legislature. The results of the investigation should be available in two weeks.