Unnamed officials speaking to the New York Times questioned whether Bureau of Diplomatic Security officials had the authority to offer such deals - making the legal validity of the offers unclear.

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He added that the Supreme Court should not have accepted the case in the first place because the Washington court had already ruled on the law's legal validity and asked the legislature to draft a narrower statute.

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He directed his trustees to vigorously fight anyone who contested his wishes, and he considered any type of legal challenge to the validity of the documents as an affront to his wishes.

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Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has made clear that her country does not recognise the referendum, insisting it has no legal validity.

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Though legal questions remain, such as the validity of trials in absentia, American officials would be wise to heed the Italian court's message that those who violate the law will be called to answer.

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When asked specifically about the validity of the drug charges, Duran says all 4, 000 prescription pills were legal.

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