Michael Jackson criticizes leak of 1993 settlements terms

LOS ANGELES (Michael Jackson Official & Fans Websites) - Pop superstar Michael Jackson on Thursday criticized the leaking of documents that disclosed the settlement terms in a 1993 civil case accusing him of child molestation.

The documents, reported by the Court TV on Tuesday, said Jackson agreed to pay 15.3 million US dollars to a boy who accusedhim of molesting him. "I respect the obligation of confidentiality imposed on all of the parties to the 1993 proceedings. Yet, someone has chosen to violate the confidentiality of those proceedings," Jackson said inthe statement.
"Whoever is now leaking this material is showing as much disrespect for the Santa Maria court's gag order as they are a determination to attack me." He urged the public to see the leaks "for what they are".

"These kinds of attacks and leaks seek to try the case in the press, rather than to a jury who will hear all of the evidence that will show that I did not, and would not, ever, harm a child," Jackson said. "I have always maintained my innocence, and vehemently denied that these events ever took place."

Jackson, who faces trial in Santa Maria for allegedly molestinganother boy in 2003, said he had reluctantly agreed to the settlement because of the case's potential to harm his career.
He claimed that those who leaked the documents were apparently trying to influence the latest molestation case he is facing. "These kinds of attacks and leaks seek to try the case in the press, rather than to a jury who will hear all of the evidence that will show that I did not, and would not, ever, harm a child,"Jackson said.
"I have always maintained my innocence, and vehemently denied that these events ever took place," he said.

Jackson, 45, is currently charged with committing a lewd act upon a Los Angeles boy, administering an intoxicating agent to thechild, and conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
The next court date for Jackson's case is June 25.