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3425 SE Yamhill Street, Suite 100
Voice (503) 227-1011lFax (503) 573-1939 l buchaljames@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ATTORNEY GENERAL COVERING UP GOVERNMENT MISCONDUCT AGAIN
Attorney General candidate James Buchal today released a September 5, 2012 letter in which Attorney General Rosenblum determined that Lane County Commissioner Rob Handy had not violated any criminal laws when he secretly solicited funds to cover court-imposed costs for violating the State’s Public Records Law, and lied to Department of Justice investigators.
Mr. Handy’s conduct in asking for a $3,000 payment to be given “confidentially and anonymously” (and accepting other such gifts) ran afoul of either (1) laws requiring Oregon campaign contributions to be publicly reported or (2) laws against receiving gifts in excess of $50 from parties with business before the County. The law provides a specific means for public officials to establish legal expense trust funds (ORS 244.209), contributions to which are exempt from the campaign contribution and gift laws, but Mr. Handy did not establish such a fund. The Attorney General’s opinion does not mention this statute.
Instead, Attorney General Rosenblum concluded that there was insufficient evidence to find any statutory violations. “This is yet another instance in Attorney General Rosenblum’s ongoing pattern of (1) failing to hold Oregon public officials accountable under law and (2) being unable to identify sufficient evidence that Oregon’s criminal laws have been violated.” Attorney General Rosenblum, while serving as a Court of Appeals Judge, was widely criticized for opinions dismissing charges against criminals in a variety of contexts.
“Reasonable people can differ about whether it would be a sensible use of prosecutorial resources to go after Mr. Handy, but it is patently unreasonable to limit the interpretation of the State’s criminal laws to protect fellow party members,” charged Buchal.
Background:
Complaint letter:
Rosenblum response:
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Buchal for Attorney General
Lisa Michaels, Campaign Manager (and one of the petitioners and plaintiffs)
503-524-9027
LisaMichaels3@gmail.com
