The Pellicano Trial: Will the Huffington Post Trial Blogger Be Subpoenaed?

Posted by Eriq Gardner

Throughout the trial, we've been wondering how Allison Hope Weiner, the Huffington Post's insightful Anthony Pellicano blogger, has been getting her inside scoops. Turns out the defendants are curious as well. Sources say defense counsel made it clear in court today that they want to subpoena Hope Weiner to tell the court who leaked her those now infamous Courtney Love, Chris Rock and Matt Williams tapes.

Hope Weiner is not a favorite of Pellicano and gang. Recall that a couple of years ago, the former NY Times freelancer on the Pellicano beat (she's also a one-time LA entertainment litigator) used her State Bar of California card to get into the federal facility where Pellicano was being held. Pellicano later said he was "outraged" and told the  LA Times that "I believe this reporter misrepresented herself as my attorney by using her legal bar card to get in to see me."

Now the defense might push Hope Weiner into a possible subpoena standoff that could land her in jail if she refuses to divulge her sources. California has one of the nation's toughest shield laws for journalists, but keep in mind that this is a federal case and, as Judith Miller and Matt Cooper can explain, there is no Federal shield law.

We're wondering if Arianna Huffington would finance Hope Weiner's defense.