'Writer' gets out of jail, but must alter Web site

If the self-styled journalist wants to stay out of jail, he must by Friday remove phone numbers and addresses from his Web site that identify the directors of his old retirement center and stop bothering them.

It's something he so far has refused to do.

Trummel, 68, was locked up Feb. 27 after the judge, James Doerty, found his site was harassing administrators at Council House, a retirement home on Capitol Hill.

The center has had a restraining order against Trummel since last year, and Doerty ruled that the personal information on the site -- accompanied by articles suggesting involvement with racism and terrorism -- violated the order.

Trummel's situation has created a freedom-of-speech debate.

Some international writers groups have issued statements supporting his release and have taken up a collection for his defense.

Others -- including Doerty -- say Trummel is a delusional sham who uses information-gathering as a way to harass.

Trummel calls himself a retired professor and reporter but has been fired from at least two universities and holds no doctorate degrees.

Trummel also said he has never been employed as a journalist, except by himself; however, he is a member of the National Writers Union.

Before releasing Trummel yesterday, Doerty called him a "mean old man" and said that nobody should be able to behave like he did, lurking the halls at night and invading the privacy of other residents at Council House.

He said the issue is not whether Trummel is a journalist -- it's about whether he's breaking state laws. Doerty called his writings "anti-Semitic, misogynistic, homophobic lies."

Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, remained concerned by Doerty's latest order, pointing out nothing on Trummel's Web site, www.contracabal.org, has been found to be libelous.

"There's nothing illegal about posting that stuff," she said. "The fact is that anyone in that same building could go out and post the same information, and it would be completely legal."

Dalglish said she would not like to see Trummel's case appealed to a higher court.

"I think a nice, polite, sensitive thing to do would be take that information down," she said.

Trummel could not be reached for comment yesterday.

One of his attorney's, Brad Meryhew, said he does not know if Trummel plans to comply with the order.

Nate Stahl, a Council House resident who attended the hearing said: "Whether he is in or out of jail is not my concern. I only want the harassment against me to stop. It has been very frightening."

At least a dozen Council House tenants showed up for Trummel's hearing.

Many had to wait in line with their walkers and canes before being patted down and checked with a metal detector, because Doerty ordered increased courtroom security.

Trummel was told to return to court Friday morning so his Web site can be reviewed and so he can show why he should not be held in contempt.

If the personal information has not been purged, he will likely go back to jail in the afternoon.

P-I reporter Mike Roarke can be reached at 206-448-8127 or mikeroarke@seattlepi.com

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