In regard to the article about the "unveiling of the Federal Witness" in the Billy Long case, I would like to say how appalling the coverage of a "confidential" informant is to someone like myself. Having been involved in law enforcement on the federal and local level in another state, the "confidentiality" of these informants is esential. Whether the FBI agents dropped the ball in not redacting the name from documents, or the judge was remiss in not instructing counsel to keep their traps shut, or, as is likely, the defense attorney knows that the chances for an aquittal are slim, and chose to try the case in the "court of public opinion", this is ludicrous. "Confidential informants" are just that, confidential. In my experience, to release the names of CI's, especially on the steps of the courthouse on live television, was inherently dangerous. Lives can be in the balance of confidentiality. While the sight of the sitting high sheriff being led into court in shackles was disturbing, the release of the name of the CI into the public forum three days into the fiasco gives me visions of Los Angeles and the O.J. debacle.