I just received the following denial from Robert P. McCulloch. I had previously written to him about accusations that he was threatening to arrest critics of Barack Obama:
>A recent report on KMOV-TV completely distorted what I and others said about potential campaign ads. We simply said that if the ads were false we would say so. Period. The statement was immediately morphed into something sinister starting with the KMOV lead in to the story and continuing through various blogs and radio talk shows.
As a result, many people were left with the mistaken idea that I threatened to take action against those who criticize Obama. To clear the record, let me state unequivocally:
RUSSELL KINSAUL (KMOV-TV) lead in- "The Obama campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading TV ad." THIS STATEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
DRUDGE and LIMBAUGH (by way of something called Gateway Pundit) – "[McCulloch and Joyce] are threatening to bring criminal libel charges against anyone who levels what turns out to be false criticisms of their chosen candidate for President." THIS STATEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE (never mind that there is no such animal as criminal libel)
GOV. MATT BLUNT – "What Obama and his helpers are doing is . . . abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment." THIS STATEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
Various local talk radio hosts continued to spread the above falsehoods without bothering to check the facts or even ask me for clarification.
Neither I nor any other person made any of the above statements. Nor did I or any other person say anything from which a responsible journalist could infer or surmise that we said or even intended the above. The mere fact that my statement of
". . . if they’re not going to tell the truth then somebody’s got to step up and say wait a minute that’s not true. . ."
becomes:
". . . threaten[ed] to bring criminal libel charges…"
clearly demonstrates the need for someone to step up and call out those who intentionally distort or ignore the truth.
For 25 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and the Prosecuting Attorney, I have worked diligently to protect the freedoms of all people in our community. I have always done my very best to earn and retain the trust of the people of St. Louis County and the metropolitan area I serve. I HAVE NEVER BEEN, NOR WILL I EVER BE, AFRAID OR HESITANT TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF MY COMMUNITY.
What the radio talk show hosts and their cohorts, Matt Blunt, Matt Drudge and Rush Limbaugh, et al, must realize is that they are not the only people in this Country who enjoy the freedoms and rights of the 1st Amendment. The Rights apply to all people-including me.
Robert P. McCulloch
Prosecuting Attorney
St. Louis County, MO
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1 comment:
He doesn't make a good defense lawyer, does he? His arguments are based on "absolutley not true", with very little detail to back those statements up.
Perhaps, had he said he would expose the lies found in campaign ads and news paper articles on BOTH candidates, such as his public position requires, he wouldn't be in such hot water. He came across as one of Obama's minions, ready to lay on his sword, upon request of "The One". There he will stay.
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