I wondered why I was having such a feeling of deja vu as I read the Thursday, March 6, 2008 Detroit Free Press.
I kept thinking, I’ve read this before.
“Attorneys’ conduct questioned in scandal,” the Free Press headlined in its top page one story.
The lead by ace reporter Joe Swickard stated, “Lawyers connected with the Detroit police whistle-blower cases face an ethical minefield that could well leaave some of them professionally maimed or worse, legal ethics experts said after examining documents, agreements, secret memos and depositions from the lawsuits.”
Boy, that seemed like familiar stuff. Where had I read this before?
Never mind where did I READ it!
I WROTE it!
Yes, indeedy, folks, Joelontheroad.com had this story long before the Free Press.
‘Course, I didn’t bother rousting out a platoon of talking heads to justify what I already knew to be true.
On Feb. 6, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE FREE PRESS STORY, joelontheroad.com posted a story called “Kwamegate out of control.”
In that post, I wrote about the dangers lurking for Kwame’s lawyers:
“The attorneys on both sides agreed to suppress the messages. Some of Kwame’s attorneys lied, saying the messages didn’t exist,” according to my post. You can read the entire essay on joelontheroad.com — it’s under the category, Kwamegate.
“Imagine the turmoil,” joelontheroad.com continued, “Of conflicting emotions going on in the minds of Kwame’s lawyers. As I type, it’s quite possible that someone is pushing the “send” key to transmit a complaint against one or more of those attorneys, as well as Kwame, to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission. Any lawyer who lied about those text messages, and this includes the cops’ attorneys, could face questions from the AGC . Lawyers aren’t supposed to lie. They have something called the Canon of Ethics. If the commission considers the complaint serious enough, it could refer the case to the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. It’s no small thing for a lawyer to face that kind of questioning; the loss or suspension of a lawyer’s license to practice law is like a job layoff. It could prove financially costly, and it would be a terrible blow to one’s self-esteem. Some of Kwame’s lawyers may be weighing where to pledge their loyalty — to the boss, or to themselves.”
The latter-day Free Press story, echoing my post, raised questions about the behavior of Mike Stefani, the cops’ attorney.
But joelontheroad.com went further than the Free Press, by questioning whether it was and is proper for city lawyers paid with tax dollars to represent the mayor in the criminal investigation now unfolding in the Wayne County prosecutor’s office.
“Incidentally, there’s another issue involving Kwame’s lawyers that I frankly don’t understand. How is it that lawyers from the city’s Legal Department are representing the mayor in a criminal case? Why should city taxpayers foot the bill for problems Kwame allegedly created on his own hook and not on behalf of the city?”
Moreover, I suggested city lawyers and other officials, including the mayor, may have violated a state law that makes it a crime for government officials to withhold finaqncial records — which the text messages surely are — from members of the public who ask to see them.
The Free Press has been the leader in breaking stories about Kwamegate, but the big papaer isn’t invincible. It’s gratifying to know that a little blog can occasionally scoop the big city daily. This is actually the third time joelontheroad.com has done it.
See my post, “Free Press recycling plan” on Feb. 19 for my other two Kwamegate scoops. Naturally, it’s also under Kwamegate.
Contact me at joelthurtell(a)gmail.com
