GOP Lawmaker Calls Leaker of Kitzhaber Emails a "Hero"

Willamette Week:

Yesterday's WW told the story of state employee Michael Rodgers, who stopped an effort to delete former Gov. John Kitzhaber's emails from state computers, and then leaked copies of the emails to WW in February.Rodgers went public with his story after he has been targeted in a criminal investigation for his actions.Today, at least one lawmaker came to Rodgers' defense, denouncing any effort to bring Rodgers up on criminal chargers for the leak."Michael Rodgers isn't an Oregon criminal—he is an Oregon hero. He deserves our respect and our support, not the burden of mounting legal bills," Rep. Knute Buehler (R-Bend) said in a statement on the House floor. Buehler, a physician, said he has contributed to a legal defense fund for Rodgers. "Unfortunately, while Governor Kitzhaber and [former first lady Cylvia] Hayes have hired the best lawyers money can buy, Michael Rodgers must defend himself, his job, and his reputation," Buehler said in his statement. "He must defend himself from the very government he has served and has sought to protect."Buehler used the opportunity to plug a bill he sponsored that would extend protections for government whistleblowers. Buehler, elected to the House in 2014, ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state against the current governor, Kate Brown. He's reported looking at a run for governor or secretary of state in 2016.Kitzhaber, a Democrat, resigned the governorship Feb. 18 while he and Hayes faced growing allegations of influence peddling and conflicts of interest. Both face an FBI investigation.

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