The Most Bungled Cover-Up in History
When we last visited The Case of the Missing Emails it was a tangled web.
It all started when The News and Observer reported the Department of Health had wasted $400 million – it was supposed to spend to provide health care to the mentally ill.
Next, the Department of Health’s spokeswoman told The News and Observer she’d been ordered to destroy emails by two of the governor’s aides (Sherry Johnson and Renee Hoffman) – apparently to hide public information.
The News and Observer called the two aides.
They vanished. Disappeared. Couldn’t be reached.
Then a third aide, Seth Effron – who is beginning to sound like a candidate for fall-guy – told the News and Observer that Johnson and Hoffman had never ordered a single email deleted. It never happened.
Then, to clear the air, the governor’s legal council, Reuben Young conducted an official investigation. He added there was “absolutely no proof” anyone ever ordered anybody to destroy any emails.
Well, Sunday, the News and Observer published proof on the front page of the newspaper. Notes from two state public information officers who attended a meeting – where they were told to destroy emails.
So, the News and Observer, apparently, called the governor’s legal council, Mr. Young, again.
They were told he’s gone to
And that the governors brought in a new lawyer, Andrew Vanore.
Vanore reads the notes – which say clear as a bell “delete emails to and from the governor’s office” – and declares with a straight face he has no idea what it means. However, he adds, he can tell “that the notes don’t mean what they say” and even if they did the instructions weren’t followed. Finally, he adds: “It could be interpreted a number of ways, and the only way to properly interpret it would be to talk to the individual who took the note.”
The News and Observer says, ‘Ok, fine.’ And tries.
Then they find out Vanore has ordered the two employees, who took the notes, to absolutely, never, ever, talk to the News and Observer about emails.
The News and Observer tries to get another comment from Seth Effron. And finds out Vanore’s ordered him to clam up too.
Next, three Republican Candidates for Governor call for an SBI investigation.
So, who can set the investigation in motion? The Secretary of Cultural Resources. Who oversees state records. The News and Observer tries to reach Secretary Lisabeth Evans.
She’s out.
But her chief deputy says the Department sees no reason for the SBI to investigate.
The News and Observes asks, Why not?
The deputy says because Andrew Vanore, the governor’s lawyer, has written a letter saying no laws were violated.
So, there you have it.
One state press spokesman fired (who told the News and Observer about deleting the emails).
Two vanished.
One lawyer in
Another press spokesman muzzled.
Two public information officers muzzled.
And the lawyer who’s defending the governor, gets to decide if the governor is investigated.
This has to be the most bungled cover-up in history.
Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.
The Most Bungled Cover-Up in History
When we last visited The Case of the Missing Emails it was a tangled web.
It all started when The News and Observer reported the Department of Health had wasted $400 million – it was supposed to spend to provide health care to the mentally ill.
Next, the Department of Health’s spokeswoman told The News and Observer she’d been ordered to destroy emails by two of the governor’s aides (Sherry Johnson and Renee Hoffman) – apparently to hide public information.
The News and Observer called the two aides.
They vanished. Disappeared. Couldn’t be reached.
Then a third aide, Seth Effron – who is beginning to sound like a candidate for fall-guy – told the News and Observer that Johnson and Hoffman had never ordered a single email deleted. It never happened.
Then, to clear the air, the governor’s legal council, Reuben Young conducted an official investigation. He added there was “absolutely no proof” anyone ever ordered anybody to destroy any emails.
Well, Sunday, the News and Observer published proof on the front page of the newspaper. Notes from two state public information officers who attended a meeting – where they were told to destroy emails.
So, the News and Observer, apparently, called the governor’s legal council, Mr. Young, again.
They were told he’s gone to
And that the governors brought in a new lawyer, Andrew Vanore.
Vanore reads the notes – which say clear as a bell “delete emails to and from the governor’s office” – and declares with a straight face he has no idea what it means. However, he adds, he can tell “that the notes don’t mean what they say” and even if they did the instructions weren’t followed. Finally, he adds: “It could be interpreted a number of ways, and the only way to properly interpret it would be to talk to the individual who took the note.”
The News and Observer says, ‘Ok, fine.’ And tries.
Then they find out Vanore has ordered the two employees, who took the notes, to absolutely, never, ever, talk to the News and Observer about emails.
The News and Observer tries to get another comment from Seth Effron. And finds out Vanore’s ordered him to clam up too.
Next, three Republican Candidates for Governor call for an SBI investigation.
So, who can set the investigation in motion? The Secretary of Cultural Resources. Who oversees state records. The News and Observer tries to reach Secretary Lisabeth Evans.
She’s out.
But her chief deputy says the Department sees no reason for the SBI to investigate.
The News and Observes asks, Why not?
The deputy says because Andrew Vanore, the governor’s lawyer, has written a letter saying no laws were violated.
So, there you have it.
One state press spokesman fired (who told the News and Observer about deleting the emails).
Two vanished.
One lawyer in
Another press spokesman muzzled.
Two public information officers muzzled.
And the lawyer who’s defending the governor, gets to decide if the governor is investigated.
This has to be the most bungled cover-up in history.
Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.