Howard K. Stern's Lawyer: "Lies, Speculation, Rumor and Gossip"

Stern's lawyer blasts the media and California's attorney general about charges stemming from the death of Anna Nicole Smith

Principal enabler or media victim?
 
Howard K. Stern will "ultimately be exonerated," says his attorney Krista Barth about charges that Stern, along with two doctors, provided prescription drugs for the late Anna Nicole Smith, who died of an accidental overdose in 2007.

In a statement issued this morning, Barth labeled yesterday's actions by California Attorney General Jerry Brown as "publicity efforts" and reminded the public about her client's right to a free trial.

"The television, tabloid and Internet trial of Mr. Stern in the court of public opinion has been based on sensational lies, speculation, rumor and gossip. Unfortunately, it appears that criminal charges have now been brought by the State of California based on this same type of misinformation."

She added, "The media trial of Mr. Stern has been based on constant shouts of guilty from a barrage of uninformed commentators based on totally inaccurate and often manufactured 'facts.' "

Barth has represented Stern for more than two years in civil suits stemming from Smith's death. She says depositions from principal witnesses reveal that Stern's accusers "have been shown to have no credibility due to their conflicting stories, to have a bias based on their own personal agendas or to have no factual basis to support their accusations."