Ehrlich Alleges 'Blackmail' By Former State Employee (Possible identity of MD4Bush Revealed?)

Washington Post ^ | 03/25/05 | Matthew Mosk

[BillF]

Just thought that you might be interested in this story.

The Post seems to think that Ehrlich administration is implying that Lane is involved in setting up NCPAC. However, upon reading the article, it appears that the Post may be connecting two unrelated matters, both matters posing similar problems for Governor Ehrlich.

Relative to NCPAC, the Governor is encouraging the press to investigate whether he was setup.

[mr.sarcastic]

So what do we have to do to get someone to subpoena this information from you? As a Marylander, I'd love to see the Dems exposed.... that will make working on Ehrlich's re-election campaign all the more fun.

[conservative in nyc]

Mddems.org found out from someone that the Washington Post was going forward with their anti-NCPAC article. It could have been from the O'Malley administration. O'Malley was likely asked for comment on the rumor that he was having an affair with the anchorwoman before the story hit the press. Or it could have been from MD4Bush, for all we know. Like the identity of MD4Bush, we just don't know how mddems.org got the inside info on the story before it hit the press. Any investigation should definitely go there.

[concerned about politics]

Heck, we could collect all kinds of stuff from DU that slanders or attacks Republicans. The Democrats should be careful what issues they want to bring attention to.

[Jim Robinson]

"Is the Baltimore Sun an FR member?"

I doubt that the Baltimore Sun is officially registered to FR, but without disclosing names, I'm sure some of there reporters are. Also some of the Washington Post's reporters. And I have absolutely no doubt that there was collusion between certain reporters and MD4Bush. As I've posted before, the whole thing appears to be a setup. If I didn't know any better, it would almost appear that certain reporters would like to make trouble for the governor of Maryland. But, of course, we all know that can't be true as both the Post and the Sun are nonpartisan objective papers, especially in their news departments. Just calling it as I see it. LOL

[scfirewall]

A man who had intimate knowledge of Womens magazines his wife read.......

That's not a man....she's a woman baby Yeah (/Bizarro World Austin Powers)

[concerned about politics]

What a bunch of dorks. They go through all this trouble to attack one chat group on the net, when there's all kinds of websites out there messing with politicians. This is the most childish thing I've ever read.
If they really want news, they should check out MoveOn.org. They'll find all kinds of political fantasies there.

[concerned about politics]

Besides, if they copied anything from Free Republic word for word, they're violating copy write laws, and if they blamed Free Republic for any individual post, it's slander.. Arrest them!

Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

(they forgot to read the small print)

[PAR35]

" If you can post the whole article, why don't you do so?"

You have a 1998 sign up date, and you don't know about the LATimes/Washington Post litigation against FR?

Start reading here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111944/posts

If you need more info, I'll dig out the link to the settlement agreement.

[Allosaurs_r_us]

"And I have absolutely no doubt that there was collusion between certain reporters and MD4Bush"

 

So, did we ever get an answer on the legality of  using IP addr's for identifying MD, or whether or not FR could be libel for exposing the individual? Sure would make our day to run this cretin thru the wringer, don't ya know.

[BillF]

Sorry to be 3 or 4 minutes late in pinging you to this.

I started #21 before you posted #20, but got sidetracked and didn't click on post until too late.

[Bogey78O]

To add what the previous poster told you Steffen was encouraged to "do like Rove did"(MD4Bush's phrasing) and spread rumors that may or may not be true. He was led into a conversation and goaded into making certain comments.

Do a FR search and you'll see how it all went down and how he was clearly set up.

[conservative in nyc]

You're probably right. WBAL's article is a little clearer. The four e-mails appear to be real e-mails, not Freepmails:

Former Ehrlich Appointee Threatens To Tell All E-Mails Suggest Controversy Amid Governor's Hiring Practices

POSTED: 6:57 pm EST March 24, 2005

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A former Ehrlich administration appointee threatens to reveal how the administration hires and fires employees, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins reported.

Previous reports have shown Gov. Bob Ehrlich (center) and Joseph Steffen (right), but now the entire picture -- with Michelle Lane (left) -- emerges amid an investigation into the governor's hiring and firing practices. A picture of Gov. Bob Ehrlich standing with longtime aide Joseph Steffen has been repeatedly published in several television news and newspaper reports. But what few have seen, until now, is the whole picture, Collins said.

According to e-mail messages the Ehrlich administration recently released, Michelle Lane, an Ehrlich appointee who was fired last year, threatens to add to the controversy surrounding the administration's hiring and firing practices.

In a Feb. 12 e-mail to the governor's top aides, Lane accused the Ehrlich administration of conducting a whispering campaign about her.

"Every time I hear about Ehrlich people engaging in a whisper campaign about me, I will release information. These e-mails are merely the tip of the iceberg," Lane wrote.

Lane attached other e-mail messages in which she accused Steffen of discussing attempts to clean house at the Public Service Commission and scheming plausible deniability, Collins said.

---SNIP---

(Articles from thebalchannel.com need to be excerpted)

[DBeers]

MD4Bush
Gerry Jarcia
VelmaCruther
terrapinfan
De Valera

Attn: MD residents - Norris & O'Malley traveling/party pals.

Where art thou now brown cow?

[ClintonBeGone]

Thats for the information. We've got the situation straightened out.

[mr.sarcastic]

Heck, we could collect all kinds of stuff from DU that slanders or attacks Republicans.

Of course, that's par for the course for those irrelevant goofballs. But even the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post couldn't deny the newsworthiness of a setup and dirty tricks originating directly from the Maryland Democratic Party HQ.

On second thought... I'm probably giving the Sun and the Post too much credit.....

[concerned about politics]

But even the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post couldn't deny the newsworthiness of a setup and dirty tricks originating directly from the Maryland Democratic Party HQ

Democrats must be in even more political trouble than we thought. Too bad for them people can smell evil. They did all that work for nothing.

[ConservativeTerrapin]

Maryland Ping!

[maggief]

http://www.gazette.net/200512/weekend/a_section/266888-1.html



Ehrlich aides allege smear campaign


by Catherine Dolinski and Thomas Dennison
Staff Writers
Mar. 25, 2005

EXCERPT

"The governor doesn't understand the legal definition of blackmail," said Lane's attorney, Daniel M. Clements, to whom she directed questions on Thursday. "He's violated a lot of employees' legal rights without caring. She sent that e-mail because the administration was attempting to have her fired from her present position -- but it was not blackmail."

Clements said Genn, a lawyer and lobbyist, does not represent Lane in any capacity, and that -- contrary to rumors that have circulated in Annapolis -- Lane has never had a romantic relationship with Steffen.

Lane's complaints about a "whisper campaign" refer to rumors that have been circulating around Annapolis that she was a spurned lover of Steffen and that she played a key role in outing Steffen as the "Prince of Darkness." Ehrlich has vehemently denied having close ties to Steffen.

[GOP_1900AD]

Verrrrry interesting!