Ex-GOP aide Steffen seeks to quash subpoena (NCPAC/MD4Bush)

Baltimore Sun ^ | 08/07/06 | Jennifer Skalka

[conservative in nyc]

Former Republican aide Joseph F. Steffen Jr., the so-called "Prince of Darkness" who gained notoriety for his role in the firing of state employees perceived as disloyal to the governor, filed a motion in Harford County Circuit Court Monday to quash a subpoena calling him to testify about his work for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Steffen was scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Annapolis before the special committee investigating whether state workers were fired for being Democrats, according to court documents filed by his attorney. But the attorney, George S. Robinson IV, contended in his filing that committee does not have subpoena power, rendering the subpoena "invalid."

Advertisement Click here to find out more! Robinson, who could not be reached for comment, requested an expedited court hearing Tuesday in Harford, where Steffen resides and is working on a local Republican campaign. It was unknown Monday night whether that hearing has been granted.

Steffen did not return a call for comment.

The state attorney general's office has ruled that the special committee is permitted to issue subpoenas for documents and for people to testify.

State Sen. Brian E. Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat and member of the committee, said Steffen would be in contempt if a court does not overturn the subpoena and he fails to show for the hearing.

"It's a lot of bobbing and weaving, and I think it's being orchestrated," Frosh said. "And I think it's being orchestrated by the Republican Party, and I think ultimately Mr. Steffen will end up testifying before the special committee."

[conservative in nyc]

Joseph Steffen is FReeper NCPAC, who was embroiled in the infamous MD4Bush saga.

Tomorrow might be the day when NCPAC is forced to tell his side of the hiring/firing story to the Ehrlich witch hunt committee. The Democrats who run that committee aren't interested in learning MD4Bush's identity - just smearing the Republican governor of Maryland over a supposed hiring/firing scandal at which NCPAC was allegedly at the center.

[evad]

Why wouldn't Steffen want to testify??

[YOUGOTIT]

If they are a left-wing Democrat and they are in a political position they should be fired.

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush Ping!

See also:

'Prince of Darkness' Prepares To Testify Before Lawmakers (Washington Post by Matthew Mosk & John Wagner 8/6/06):

The accusations about dirty tricks have come and gone, but the man who started his work with Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s administration in 2003 as a virtual unknown and departed in a media firestorm is about to be back on center stage.

Joseph Steffen , the self-proclaimed "prince of darkness," is the man Ehrlich fired just as The Washington Post was preparing to report that Steffen had boasted about orchestrating a whisper campaign against Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D). Now, 18 months later, Steffen is scheduled to testify before state lawmakers.

A special legislative committee that is investigating Ehrlich's personnel moves served Steffen with a subpoena, two sources told The Post last week, and he has agreed to appear before the panel Wednesday, with counsel at his side, to answer questions.

Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) said his hope all along has been that Steffen will explain what his marching orders were from former Ehrlich chief of staff Steve Kreseski , who hired him to be the administration's "troubleshooter" in three agencies.

Some of those testifying, including Ehrlich administration officials, have said Steffen was identifying state workers who should be fired. Other Ehrlich aides have denied this.

What has been alleged, but never proved, is that Steffen was slashing Democrats from the state workforce for purely partisan reasons, which would be improper. Ehrlich's top aides have said repeatedly that this is patently false.

Middleton would not confirm Steffen's appearance, but he said that if Steffen does come before the committee, he has no idea what to expect from the testimony.

--Snip--

[conservative in nyc]

Why wouldn't Steffen want to testify??

Other than the fact that the special committee is a partisan witch hunt taking place in the middle of the election cycle, it beats me. A few weeks ago, Steffen told the Baltimore Sun he was looking forward to testifying, IIRC.

[conservative in nyc]

Here's a link to today's Washington Post story on the subpoena quashing:

Ehrlich Operative Moves To Repel Probe Subpoena (Matthew Mosk)

[evad]

"He has said repeatedly that he would love to come before the committee, that he had nothing to hide," said House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel). "I'm wondering why has he suddenly gotten cold feet."

Of course, this is a RAT speaking and it's quoted in a RAT newspaper..but...I'd kinda like to know the same thing.

Also, didn't realize NCPAC was still posting.

[conservative in nyc]

NCPAC has posted here a few times since the MD4Bush became front page news last year.

In any event, according to the AP, the judge just ruled that the subpoena was valid. It looks like NCPAC will be testifying tomorrow.

[Gabz]

Criminy.......getting rid of the dregs of a previous administration is SOP in any government. I dealt with the politics of both Maryland and Delaware for over 20 years, it was always done.

The Dem legislature of Maryland just can't stand the fact a Republican is in the Governor's Mansion.

Just look at what they did with the WalMart bill. The county they hurt the most, one with one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, is primarily a Red county.

Democrats in Maryland are just like demonrats everywhere, they don't give a rat's behind about the people they claim to be championing.

[evad]

Criminy.......getting rid of the dregs of a previous administration is SOP in any government.

I would think it would be a DUTY to cleanse the gubermint of entrenched "dregs".

What's the point of having a new chief if you can't have new indians that are on "your side"?

I'd be proud of it.

[Gabz]

Looking back, I actually lucked out NOT getting the job with the House Repbulican Caucus in Delaware back in the mid 1980s that I really, really wanted.

[Sgt_Schultze]

IIRC, Matthew Most is the reporter who admitted to logging onto FreeRepublic using MD4Bush's login. That means Most has admitted to being MD4Bush.

NCPAC should testify to the comittee exactly as any of the dem candidates answers a question. He should answer the question he wants to answer, which will be non-responsive to the committee question and he should repeat the mantra, "Washington Post reporter MD4Bush, AKA Matthew Mosk."

[conservative in nyc]

IIRC, Matthew Most is the reporter who admitted to logging onto FreeRepublic using MD4Bush's login. That means Most has admitted to being MD4Bush.

Not exactly. The Washington Post admitted that Matthew Mosk or someone working with him logged on to Free Republic as MD4Bush, but they claim they did so only to verify that the FReepmails from NCPAC to MD4Bush were authentic. The WaPo claimed that none of their employees posted as MD4Bush.

MD4Bush is more likely a Democrat operative not employed by the Washington Post - but we still don't know this for sure.

[Sgt_Schultze]

I realize that is what WAPO claims. But as Mosk is the only person who has admitted to logging in as MD4Bush, they really cannot confirm how he behaved earlier, in private without the supervision of the WAPO supervisors.

Under the terms of use of Free Republic, the logins are not to be distributed. WAPO wouldn't willfully violate the terms of use, would they?

Mosk may or may not be MD4Bush, but he is the only person who has admitted to loggin in as such. Until such time as another person admits to being MD4Bush, I will believe it is the person who admitted loggin in under that moniker - Mosk.

[conservative in nyc]

The WaPo has a factually incorrect headline for Matthew Mosk's version of the story - NCPAC no longer works for the Governor Ehrlich's administration:

Ehrlich Operative Fails to Block Subpoena

[Anti-Bubba182]

Thanks for the ping.