Leslie Lewis: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Carla Axtman
C'mon Yamhill County...you can do better than this.
Hannah Hoffman, McMinnville News Register:
State Department of Justice investigative files, released in response to a News-Register public records request, show that County Commissioner Leslie Lewis never denied videotaping colleague Mary Stern without knowledge or consent at a Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce endorsement interview.
A Salem defense lawyer retained by Lewis argued, rather, that a reasonable person shouldn’t expect privacy in such a setting, especially with a Flip camera lying on the table.
Attorney Walter Todd relied on statements from conservative political figures to counter statements from members of the endorsement committee, who said taping wasn’t authorized, anticipated or evident to them at what they considered a private meeting.
Really? A reasonable person shouldn't expect to be informed if they're to be videotaped at a private event? And is this really the standard to which public officials in Yamhill County want to be held: the DOJ might not be able to get a conviction--so too damn bad? Is this what Yamhill County residents expect from those representing them in government?
Hoffman goes on to report the political motivations behind Lewis' actions:
The taping was apparently politically motivated, as Lewis was an ardent and active supporter of Starrett (Stern's opponent). It was conducted in April, prior to the May primary, but didn’t come to light until a heavily edited excerpt surfaced on YouTube and a conservative political website in the waning weeks of a heated general election campaign.
The excerpt focused in on a question Lewis authored and promoted over the objection of some of her fellow committee members — how Stern voted on a pair of January income tax measures, 66 and 67. It was apparently shot with a Flip camera Lewis borrowed from commission ally Kathy George.
So, two conservative County Commissioners in Yamhill County participated in videotaping their colleague without her permission or consent at a private event. And then somehow,magically, a heavily edited version of the video went up on YouTube and a conservative GOP website.
The Oregon Dept of Justice announced that it wouldn't charge Lewis with a crime after investigating, not because Lewis is innocent, but because the law is contradictory and as such they likely couldn't get a conviction.
Pretty dirty stuff.
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9:21 a.m.
Jan 20, '11
Two words: civil suit.
10:51 a.m.
Jan 20, '11
And this on the heels of the MultCo DA refusing to prosecute James Posey for assaulting a conservative videographer at a Kitzhaber campaign event in NoPo.
DA's excuse basically the same as AG's - can't prove a case for conviction.
Dirty business, indeed.
12:02 p.m.
Jan 20, '11
Same answer. If a person is assaulted, there are all kinds of lawyers who will sue. Unless, of course, the assault was trumped up, or incited, or was just done to try and make political points.
7:40 p.m.
Jan 20, '11
I couldn't believe the Mult Cty DA refused to prosecute Posey. The entire assault was recorded on the guys video. From what I understand Posey's victim is filing or has filed a large civil suit against him. Good! Assaulting people who you don't agree with politically is wrong no matter who it is. Amazing that there is no shortage of stories claiming that Tea Party activists are violent despite the lack of anything resembling any incidents to support them and we have guys like Posey assaulting a man in a church in front of Kitzhaber and the story and it's prosecution never seem to make it to market
4:14 p.m.
Jan 21, '11
From what I understand Posey's victim is filing or has filed a large civil suit against him. Good!
He got a bloody nose, right? While he was trespassing. And now he's suing?
And here I thought it was the Republicans who were opposed to frivolous lawuits.