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Steffen Apologizes, Ehrlich Launches Investigation
WBAL ^ | 2/11/05 | WBAL & AP

Posted on 02/11/2005 9:19:59 AM PST by advance_copy

Democratic legislative leaders, skeptical that a longtime aide to Governor Ehrlich acted alone when he spread rumors about Mayor O'Malley, say it will take more than an inquiry by the governor's legal adviser to resolve questions about the incident that has roiled state political waters.

But Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said Thursday Democrats won't rush into any investigation of their own.

"We are going to let the matter percolate for two or three days. We're going to see what else comes forth, analyze what steps the governor is taking," Miller said.

He said he and House Speaker Michael Busch will then try to come up with a way to resolve the matter that will be acceptable to Republicans and Democrats.

Ehrlich asked Jervis Finney, a former state senator and head of his legal staff, to investigate the role Joseph Steffen played in spreading rumors about O'Malley's personal life and whether his Internet postings were done with state equipment on state time. Ehrlich fired Steffen and asked him to apologize to O'Malley.

In an e-mail to O'Malley, which Steffen provided to The Associated Press Thursday, he said he was "truly sorry, ashamed and remorseful and I ask that you and your family please find it in your hearts to forgive me."

"I have no excuse for joining web (or other) conversations that are reckless, mean-spirited and personally damaging in nature," the e-mail said.

Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for O'Malley, said the mayor received an e-mail "through the Baltimore City Web site allegedly from Steffen. The mayor has no further comment at this time."

O'Malley and his wife, Catherine, held a news conference Wednesday to say that rumors that the mayor has been unfaithful to his wife were untrue, with O'Malley describing them as "despicable lies."

Miller said an apology from Steffen was not sufficient and that the governor also should apologize for the actions of someone who was on his staff when he was in Congress and then came with him to state government.

"It happened on his watch. If he didn't know, he should have known," Miller said. "If he would apologize, maybe we could put an end to this."

Ehrlich said Wednesday he would not tolerate what Steffen did, but also would not apologize personally for Steffen's actions. The governor refused to answer questions about any topic at his one public event Thursday, a ceremony to dispense to charities $20,000 donated by state employees for tsunami relief.

House Majority Leader Kumar Barve, D-Montgomery, said he believes an inquiry outside the governor's office is needed to look at Steffen's actions and whether other members of the administration were involved, but he said House leaders had not discussed what form the inquiry should take.

But some key Democratic leaders, include House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Bryan Frosh, also think an inquiry should be expanded to look into the way the Ehrlich administration has carried out what Frosh described it as "a statewide purge of people who are politically undesirable."

Busch said one of the Steffen's main duties was to go into state agencies and root out people who might not be loyal to Ehrlich so they could be fired.

"They removed long-serving employees, nonpolitical employees, put armed guards at offices, posted pictures of (fired) employees in the lobby of the building where they worked," the speaker said. "That's the police state mentality that state government is now in."

Busch said an independent inquiry is needed into whether Steffen had spread rumors on state time on state equipment and whether other people were involved.

"I certainly don't think it should be left to some kind of investigation done by the administration," he said. "That's the ultimate fox guarding the hen house."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: apology; maryland; ncpac; nicewitchhunt; omalley; probe; steffen
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To: staytrue; sure_fine

I'd bet it was demokkkRATs who were re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic as it was sinking... idiots.


21 posted on 02/11/2005 9:51:51 AM PST by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: 7.62 x 51mm

Can we get a summary and timeline to make following this a bit easier?


1. Infidelity rumor about Baltimore Mayor posted by "???" on the date: ????

2. NCPAC's first comments on this were: ????

3. MD4Bush drew NCPAC into his confidence by .....

4. NCPAC true identity found out

5. MD4Bush posts NCPACS personal freepmail on this thead ""
at such and such time

6. Washington post prints story about said personal freepmail at such and such time which leads some to think MD4Bush is?????

Please fill in the blanks and add links PLEASE!


22 posted on 02/11/2005 9:58:17 AM PST by icwhatudo (The rino borg...is resistance futile?)
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To: Peach

You mean the "establishment" press authorized by the government in Washington, DC. We all know now that the press has a vetting process in order to control all news disseminators. Unless you are a part of their establishment, then you are not legitimate. I wonder when they will revoke CBS' membership in the establishment.


23 posted on 02/11/2005 9:58:19 AM PST by petitfour
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To: Mo1
Hmmm .. could be the reason NCPAC was set up

It was, this was the reputation they gave him.

24 posted on 02/11/2005 10:01:16 AM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: advance_copy

I don't see what the big deal is. Isn't this the same mayor who compared President Bush to the 9/11 terrorists?

How can this mayor remain in office after making such a statement?


25 posted on 02/11/2005 10:04:57 AM PST by B Knotts
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To: Jim Robinson
Contact info for Jervis Finney's office, the Governor's legal counsel (mentioned in the story, he is heading up the investigation):

Jervis Spencer Finney, Chief Legal Counsel & Criminal Justice Advisor to the Governor
Stephanie V. Hopkins, Executive Assistant & Administrator
Arielle Fougy Hinton, Deputy Counsel
J. P. Scholtes, Deputy Counsel
Chrysovalantis "Chrys" P. Kefalas, Deputy Counsel

Shaw House
Annapolis, MD 21401-1925
(410) 974-3005
FAX: (410) 974-2077
26 posted on 02/11/2005 10:06:05 AM PST by advance_copy
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To: Jim Robinson

JIm, does his IP address come from WASH POST or GOV computer?


27 posted on 02/11/2005 10:08:32 AM PST by icwhatudo (The rino borg...is resistance futile?)
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To: MeekOneGOP; Howlin

Hope you don't mind me pinging you.


28 posted on 02/11/2005 10:09:18 AM PST by clyde260 (Public Enemy #1: Network News!)
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To: nicmarlo

MD4Bush appears to have been the mole in this case. One red flag was that he / she joined on the day of the first debate, Oct 7 04. His / her posts were mostly a dry imimitation of "the conservative mindset" according to the left. It is a fascinating study. Go take a look at MD4Bush's posts, especially the ones where he / she pasted in supposed Freepmails from NCPAC to him / her and posted them to himself on one of the threads. He added MD4Bush to the keywords and made them real easy for MSM to find.


29 posted on 02/11/2005 10:10:16 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: advance_copy
Democrats won't rush into any investigation of their own hoping the scandal will go away before some evidence against the mayor surfaces.
30 posted on 02/11/2005 10:10:40 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: Jim Robinson
I've got some very interesting information for the governor's investigation regarding the Maryland Democrat Party dirty trickster that setup Steffen and the Washington Post reporter er, Democrat operative that was working in concert with him. Almost hoping to receive a subpoena.

Why wait for a supoena? ;0) I mean, it might make an interesting "Breaking News" post, with a nice big ol' link on the FR Homepage, so people checking out the site because of this story would see it, and well, it would be not only funny, but pre-emptive.

Me likey pre-emptive ;0)

31 posted on 02/11/2005 10:14:29 AM PST by Chad Fairbanks (Celibacy is a hands-on job.)
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To: icwhatudo

The following answers a number of these questions:



http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1246101/posts

This may be the smoking gun:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1300213/posts

Posted by MD4Bush to NCPAC
On News/Activism 12/13/2004 7:21:28 AM PST 71 of 149

Amazing that they could take Kerick down sooooo easily-- yet O'Malley still roams unscathed. Should send a note to Kerick, Baltimore is looking for a Police commissioner, it doesn't matter if you cheat on your wife.

49 posted on 02/11/2005 9:55:11 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)

To: dirtboy

More:

MD4Bush
Since Oct 7, 2004


view home page, enter name:

~ About ~ Links ~ Contact ~ In Forum ~ Mail To ~

Return

I hate John Kerry and I'm sick of his lies. This is the most important election in history and George bush must win. If not the Islamic Terrorists will win, there will be more attacks on the states.




http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1244087/posts

Karl Rove on the Tony Snow Show (Confident!)
Posted by MD4Bush to NCPAC
On News/Activism 10/14/2004 1:15:13 PM PDT ? 100 of 102

There was a great article in the atlantic (lib mag my wife reads) about Rove. The writer whines all about Rove?s tricks, but they work and he is a genius. He got a rumor started about this dem judge who gave a lot of money to a charity for kids, so they took those pictures of the judge with the kids and said he was a gay pedophile. It worked.

Check it out: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200411/green


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1174344/posts

O'Malley Rumours
Posted by MD4Bush to Dahoser
On News/Activism 10/08/2004 8:30:19 AM PDT ? 75 of 80

Yeah, he cheats on his wife. I heard that he is not allowed in the house and is living in some new high-rise near city hall. He's is a young arrogant punk for sure. I can't him, he is like Slick-Willy.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232358/posts

Debate #1: How Did They Do?
Posted by MD4Bush to NCPAC
On News/Activism 10/07/2004 1:22:16 PM PDT ? 58 of 58

You are right about the "yes men", What can we expect this friday as far as the questions go... Do you know? Will it be a snoozer? Chenney kicked Edwards butt. It was like "Who do you want a heart beat away from the prez, Mickey mouse or George Patton. Of course, CBS (might as well call them DNC) said Edwards won.

50 posted on 02/11/2005 10:03:39 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)


32 posted on 02/11/2005 10:14:38 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: icwhatudo

Scandal Puts Focus On Role of Bloggers (WaPo on FR and NCPAC)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340900/posts


33 posted on 02/11/2005 10:16:13 AM PST by Mo1 (Question to Liberals .. When did supporting and defending Freedom become a bad thing??)
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To: Jim Robinson; Peach; Mo1

BTTT


34 posted on 02/11/2005 10:18:06 AM PST by prairiebreeze (George W Bush: Spending well-earned political capital.)
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To: icwhatudo

i. MD4Bush joins on Oct 7, day of the first debate.

1. Infidelity rumor about Baltimore Mayor posted by "???" on the date: October 8 04 (?)

2. NCPAC's first comments on this were: (?)

2a. MD4Bush's first attempt to bait NCPAC into commenting on this was: Oct 8 04

3. MD4Bush drew NCPAC into his confidence by ..... (See 2a.)

4. NCPAC true identity found out: Probably some time in December.

5. MD4Bush posts NCPACS personal freepmail on this thead ""
at such and such time: Feb 8, 04 (?)


35 posted on 02/11/2005 10:19:34 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: Jim Robinson

If that's not a tease, I don't know what is!!!!!!!!!

I'm smiling like crazy, but exploding with curiosity. Fearless leader that you are, I trust your good judgement.

(secretly thinking: let it out, let it out, let it out)


36 posted on 02/11/2005 10:20:27 AM PST by clyde260 (Public Enemy #1: Network News!)
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To: advance_copy

Nice to see elected officials have so much time on their hands--and I'm not referring to the one who got fired for three or four emails.


37 posted on 02/11/2005 10:23:26 AM PST by Darkwolf377 ("Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong."-Ronald Reagan)
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To: sure_fine

So, apparently, they are not good, caring citizens, they are just those who sit on their hands and so, oh well.


38 posted on 02/11/2005 10:27:48 AM PST by RetiredArmy (America will NEVER be free as long as we have Democrats.)
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To: advance_copy
re: Great googly moogly! Will someone get hold of Governor Ehrlich and let him know that Steffen wasn't "spreading rumors"? )))

I know, but you have to give them credit for giving this legs...they're making it out like they've got Linda Tripp all over again.

In which case, I'm wondering if there's a blue dress somewhere.

Are ego-mad Dem pols in the habit of fidelity? A NE Irish Dem pol?

The Dems are going to assume that this posture of righteousness--"the evils of gossip"--will immunize O'Malley. It just may make for even more eyes watching him...and his car license number.

39 posted on 02/11/2005 10:28:49 AM PST by Mamzelle
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To: GOP_1900AD

Correction:

1. Infidelity rumor about Baltimore Mayor posted by xcullen on the date: July 19 04

(xcullen, Since Mar 8, 2004 - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=139285)

(Note: Uses "rumours" spelling. Interesting.)


40 posted on 02/11/2005 10:28:59 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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