Post taken down at request of the newsletter author.

I received an email from the author of the newsletter, quotes of which were posted here. He was polite, quoted his newsletter disclaimer and asked me to take this interview down. If I didn’t of course his lawyer would be given the opportunity to ask me to do so. This is part of what he had to say:

We have been following your blog over these weeks relating to Axcess.

We realize that it is tough to balance the dissemination of information with privacy interests and respect for the concerns of specific individuals.  Be that as it may, it has come to our attention that your website has recently posted confidential and privileged information, which should not have been made publicly available.

The newsletter writer’s site is now offline.

Update: The new site is here.

You have to pick your battles, this newsletter interview being online or offline isn’t going to be one of mine.  If I am willing to allow investors the opportunity to email privately and use a screen name in comments, I think it’s fair to extend the newsletter writer the same courtesy.

He is willing to meet offline and discuss this.
Canada is a very big country, that meeting is not going to happen.
He is free to email me if he wants to.

I wonder how a request for take down looks to readers? 
There are some interesting comments on defamation and libel going on in the comment section.

The newsletter author has asked me to remove all comments under this post. I do not edit other people’s comments, unless the commenter requests a correction and I am not going to honour this particular request. I am sorry the editor of this newsletter is uncomfortable with comments, I encourage him to come to BDBO and make this request directly to anyone who has commented below.  BD 

Update: I’ve had it people who have been harmed threatening to harm others.
Legally I am responsible for comments at BDBO. I’ve read libel/defamation law.
Once I received notice of copy violation I complied.

The lawyer is obviously on standby (hence the ‘we’) to go after the source, after me, and after commenters.  
I don’t believe lawyers client will going to stop until he gets what believes he needs. 
I will not see people threatened and harrassed because anyone swirling around in this alleged scam and investigation is concerned about further damage to their reputation. Balancing out reputation and free speech is a legal minefield.                                                                      

I’m angry.
Not because I alone made a legal error I’m responsible for, but because others are threatened in the legal casting of the wide net.

One of the things I’ve asked others to do is pray I do not sin.
That sin is going to look different for me than for those who have been harmed.
Another thing I have asked is that fellow believers remind me to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly.
Hard stuff sometimes.

I am prepared to lay aside my rights and I can give biblical reasons for doing so. 
I’m not going to preach or teach right now, theology and anger are not a good mix.
As a follower of Jesus I am prepared to yield my rights to possessions, talents, time, health, body, future, reputation and family and friends. 

In complying with the request to delete the post because of copy violations, I have complied with Canadian law.
In complying with the request to delete commenters because of further damage to an individuals reputation, I acknowledge there would be no comments if I hadn’t violated this guy’s disclaimer.

There are a few thousand posts to comment under at BDBO. This obviously isn’t going to be one of them. 
To those who commented on this thread, I’m sorry my decision put you under potential legal threat.

Comments have been deleted and the comment section is closed.

The final part of the post, sans newsleter interview stays up.

1. How to avoid affinity fraud:

- Check out the person. No matter how trustworthy, how well recommended by fellow club members or parishioners, you must independently investigate the background of the individual. Do not invest solely on the recommendation of a member of an organization to which you belong.

- Check out the investment. No matter how promising the profits, how enthusiastic the recommendation, independently investigate how the investment is going to make money. Get all information in writing, and then verify the facts and figures.

- Resist pressure tactics. Many affinity schemes thrive on word of mouth, and the schemers emphasize the need to act quickly to get in on what they describe to be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

- Be aware of the use of names or testimonials from other group members.

Take action:

- Obtain a written prospectus or other form of printed material that thoroughly explains the risks of the investment and how you can get your money back.

- Get professional advice from a neutral party outside the group, such as your attorney, accountant, or investment advisor.