"RECORDGATE" Update: Lunsford Says He'll Tell Marshall County Grand Jury He was "Illegally Bugged".
Lunsford: He'll tell grand jury he was 'illegally bugged'
By Joseph Gerth
Democrat Bruce Lunsford's campaign says he will tell a Marshall County grand jury that a Republican operative "illegally bugged" his speaking platform during a debate in Western Kentucky.
The grand jury will consider a complaint by Richard St. Onge III, an employee of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who claimed that Lunsford took his digital recorder after the debate and that Lunsford's staff erased it.
Jason Darnall, an assistant Marshall County attorney, said the grand jury will decide if any crimes were committed, and that he will not make a recommendation. The jury is set to meet Nov. 7.
Surreptitiously recording someone is a class D felony.
St. Onge put the recorder on Lunsford's rostrum. Ed Hart, Lunsford's campaign chairman, said St. Onge never asked permission to do so, and the campaign has said it was hidden under a notebook.
Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Republican committee, said St. Onge didn't hide the recorder and was simply trying to obtain a good recording.
In a statement by Lunsford spokeswoman Lindsey Berman, the campaign suggested Sen. Mitch McConnell is using the incident to deflect attention from issues such as the economy, the Bush presidency and the conviction of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska on corruption charges:
"We'll be happy to tell the story of how McConnell's people illegally bugged Bruce's podium. In the meantime, we'll keep talking about how Mitch McConnell, George Bush and Ted Stevens have nearly destroyed our economy and the trust of the American people."
After the debate last Thursday at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Lunsford picked up the recorder and handed it to an aide. It was returned after St. Onge complained to the Marshall County sheriff. St. Onge said more than 65 recordings were erased.
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702.
Editor's comment: This could get U-G-L-Y!
By Joseph Gerth
Democrat Bruce Lunsford's campaign says he will tell a Marshall County grand jury that a Republican operative "illegally bugged" his speaking platform during a debate in Western Kentucky.
The grand jury will consider a complaint by Richard St. Onge III, an employee of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who claimed that Lunsford took his digital recorder after the debate and that Lunsford's staff erased it.
Jason Darnall, an assistant Marshall County attorney, said the grand jury will decide if any crimes were committed, and that he will not make a recommendation. The jury is set to meet Nov. 7.
Surreptitiously recording someone is a class D felony.
St. Onge put the recorder on Lunsford's rostrum. Ed Hart, Lunsford's campaign chairman, said St. Onge never asked permission to do so, and the campaign has said it was hidden under a notebook.
Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Republican committee, said St. Onge didn't hide the recorder and was simply trying to obtain a good recording.
In a statement by Lunsford spokeswoman Lindsey Berman, the campaign suggested Sen. Mitch McConnell is using the incident to deflect attention from issues such as the economy, the Bush presidency and the conviction of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska on corruption charges:
"We'll be happy to tell the story of how McConnell's people illegally bugged Bruce's podium. In the meantime, we'll keep talking about how Mitch McConnell, George Bush and Ted Stevens have nearly destroyed our economy and the trust of the American people."
After the debate last Thursday at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Lunsford picked up the recorder and handed it to an aide. It was returned after St. Onge complained to the Marshall County sheriff. St. Onge said more than 65 recordings were erased.
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702.
Editor's comment: This could get U-G-L-Y!
Labels: Stick with Mitch
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 11:07 AM
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