Daily Texan Staff
An Austin woman charged with covertly sending copies of George W. Bush's debate video tapes and other classified materials to an Al Gore campaign adviser during the 2000 presidential election was released from jail Wednesday to await trial.
Juanita Yvette Lozano, 30, was indicted last month under charges of mail fraud, making false statements to federal investigators and lying to a grand jury.
In Lozano's first appearance facing the charges Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Anvy Austin granted her release from jail without bond. In accordance with the release, which doesn't require supervision from law enforcement officials, Lozano cannot break any law, must make all court appearances and notify her attorneys of a change of residential address.
Austin told Lozano that if these conditions are not met, a warrant would be issued for her arrest.
In addition, Austin warned her not to tamper with the federal investigation in ways like retaliating against an inside informant, or she could be penalized with 10 years in prison in addition to the 15 years and $750,000 fine she may face if convicted.
When asked if she understood the rules, Lozano replied, "Yes sir, completely."
Lozano hasn't entered a plea, and no trial date has been set.
Lozano's attorneys, Charles Burton and Christopher Gunter, declined to comment Wednesday.
During the presidential election, Lozano worked as an office manager for Maverick Media a company that produced George W. Bush's television ads. She was charged in September 2000 with sending a videotape and 120 pages of Bush's campaign materials to former U.S. Rep. Tom Downey, D-New York, a Gore campaign advisor.
February's 12-page, three-count indictment states that "Lozano [used] her position as a trusted employee of Maverick Media, which worked exclusively in support of the Bush campaign, to obtain access to the Bush campaign's confidential and sensitive debate preparation materials ..." adding that she also concealed her involvement in sending the materials.
Following the incident, the Gore and Bush campaigns denied any involvement.
Lozano's boss, Mark McKinnon, a Bush adviser, UT alumnus and former Daily Texan editor, came under suspicion because of his history with the Democratic Party, including having worked for former Gov. Ann Richards. McKinnon was never charged with involvement in the crime.
Lozano contended in September that a damaging videotape of her sending a parcel from an Austin post office shortly before Downey received the debate tapes was misleading. She said she was merely returning a pair of pants from The Gap as a favor for McKinnon.
Lozano also has connections to the Democratic Party. Before working at Maverick Media, she was a precinct chairwoman for the Travis County Democratic Party and formerly worked for both Richards and Rep. Glen Maxey, D-Austin.
UT government and philosophy professor T.K. Seung called the case an "isolated event" but found it surprising because the tapes Lozano allegedly sent would not necessarily have aided the Gore campaign. He said the Gore team probably already had a good idea of Bush's debate strategy.
"Gore couldn't gain that much [from the tapes]," Seung said.
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