Posted on 12/10/2007 6:32:32 PM PST by Huntress
Attorney General Paul Morrison faces a sexual harassment claim tied to an extramarital affair he had with a subordinate in the Johnson County district attorney's office that continued after he became the state's top prosecutor this year.
Linda Carter, longtime director of administration in the district attorney's office, revealed extensive details of the relationship with Morrison before quitting her job Nov. 30 in Olathe. Prior to the resignation, Carter's civil rights claim was filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Topeka Capital-Journal learned Carter had a two-year affair with Morrison that began in September 2005 with a sex act inside an office at the Johnson County Courthouse and continued until this September with a series of covert liaisons in Topeka, Wichita, Salina, Overland Park and cities in at least three other states.
Carter said in a signed statement that Morrison pressured her to make use of her position in the D.A.'s office to influence pending litigation involving Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline.
Morrison confirmed Saturday that he engaged in a romantic relationship with Carter. However, the attorney general said he neither discriminated nor harassed her.
"Many of the claims made by Linda Carter are false," Morrison said. "Unfortunately, it is true, however, that I once had a consensual relationship with Mrs. Carter. And I profoundly regret that I did."
"I sincerely apologize for this failing in my personal life and I pledge to continue to fight for the safety and security of Kansans to the best of my ability," he also said.
The conduct of Morrison and Carter is the subject of an unfolding inquiry involving officials at the county, state and federal levels.
Morrison, who was district attorney for Johnson County from 1989 until taking office as attorney general in January, faces a sexual harassment complaint forwarded Nov. 8 to the EEOC's office in Kansas City, Kan.
There is a history of such allegations involving Morrison. He was accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct years ago with a different female employee of the Johnson County's D.A.'s office, but during last year's campaign for attorney general Morrison forcefully rejected the validity of that accusation.
Morrison swept to victory over Kline, the Republican incumbent attorney general, in November 2006. Kline was appointed one month later to complete Morrison's term as Johnson County district attorney. Under Kline, Carter retained her job as the D.A. office's top nonlegal staff member.
Tampering, spying?
In the midst of her relationship with Morrison, the attorney general repeatedly tried to coerce Carter to write letters on behalf of eight former Morrison colleagues who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Kline, according to Carter's statement.
Seven assistant district attorneys and the D.A. office's chief investigator, known as the "Olathe 8," were dismissed by Kline on the day he was sworn into office. The case is pending in federal court.
Morrison also attempted to glean from her sensitive information about Kline's activities as district attorney, Carter's statement said. That includes Kline's ongoing criminal prosecution of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, an abortion clinic in Johnson County.
Morrison has been critical of charges brought by Kline against Planned Parenthood, and he has intervened in his capacity as attorney general into a legal dispute about abortion records relied upon by Kline to build that case.
In response to Carter's statement, Morrison said he didn't manipulate his association with Carter to influence the Olathe 8 or Planned Parenthood cases.
"Any allegation that I used the relationship to influence litigation is absolutely false," Morrison said. "The only people attempting to use this painful and personal information for their own benefit are Mrs. Carter and her boss, Phill Kline."
Brian Burgess, spokesman for Kline, said the district attorney wouldn't comment for this story.
Actions of Morrison and Carter, who were both married at the outset of the affair, has captured the attention of the Johnson County Commission. The seven commissioners could be called upon to weigh the county's financial liability in light of Carter's complaint that Morrison created a hostile work environment.
"I really can't make any comment surrounding any allegation," said Ed Eilert, a member of the county commission. "He (Morrison) did a terrific job as far as performing the functions of the office."
The pitch
Morrison had been putting criminals behind bars in Johnson County for more than 15 years when Carter moved in 1996 with her family to the Kansas City area from Nebraska. She accepted a part-time position as a statistical support specialist in the victim-witness assistance unit at the D.A.'s office. By this time, Morrison had served an apprenticeship and followed in the footsteps of D.A. Dennis Moore, who now represents Kansas in the U.S. House.
Carter was promoted several years later to coordinator of the victim-witness unit. In that role, she began working closely with Morrison on major criminal cases. Departure of the office's director of administration led Morrison to appoint Carter to the top job in 2001.
Morrison made his feelings about Carter known to her for the first time while both were attending a June 2005 meeting in New York City of the Vera Institute of Justice, a think-tank organization conducting a study of racial profiling. While sitting in the lobby of a hotel, Carter's statement said, Morrison told Carter he was interested in a romantic relationship with her. He said his feelings had origins in a party six months earlier hosted by an Overland Park police detective.
Carter was shocked by Morrison's revelation. She told her boss that she was flattered but wasn't interested in a relationship with the district attorney. Morrison asked her to his room. He said they could just lie on the bed in their clothes and talk. He tried to kiss her. She rebuffed him, her statement said.
On the flight home to Kansas City International, Morrison asked Carter questions about dating and her marriage to John Carter, the city administrator of Roeland Park.
Several days after returning from New York City, Morrison came to Carter's office at the Johnson County Courthouse to tell her, "I can't do this." Carter told him that no harm had been done.
Another try
In July 2005, according to Carter's statement, Morrison resumed his quest to form a relationship with her. Morrison raised the topic while the two walked together to a meeting of the Johnson County Commission in Olathe.
"I want to explore it," he told her.
Carter and Morrison flirted with each other during the next two months. That changed in September when Morrison told Carter by telephone to go to the courthouse office of Assistant District Attorney Ted Baird. In the empty office, they began their sexual relationship, according to the statement.
Sexual encounters followed in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and New York, Carter's statement said. The roster includes the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park in October 2005; the Muhlbach Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., in February 2006; the Holiday Inn in Salina, Days Inn Metropolitan in New York City and the Hyatt Hotel in Wichita in June 2006; and the Capital Plaza Hotel in Topeka in December 2006.
Morrison rarely spent the night and never paid for the room. Carter signed for the rooms and paid cash.
In July 2006, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius appointed Carter to the new Interagency Council on Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation. Carter said in the statement that she had sex with Morrison at a Topeka motel while attending meetings of the council.
Carter and Morrison regularly had sex in Carter's private office and in Morrison's office at the courthouse during normal business hours, her statement said. During one such encounter, the statement says that Morrison gazed out the office window and wondered aloud if Kline had someone watching through a telescope. The two also had sex in a witness room assigned to District Court Judge Stephen Tatum.
In spring 2006, Morrison began telling Carter that he loved her. She reciprocated the sentiment in August 2006 while at a motel in Emporia. As Morrison's campaign for attorney general appeared more promising in October and November, the two spoke of their life after a victory over Kline.
Morrison raised the idea of both obtaining a divorce and getting married. To emphasize the point, Carter's statement said, Morrison bought an engagement ring in December 2006 at an Overland Park jewelry store. He gave the ring, appraised at more than $16,000, to Carter during a trip to the Carter family's residence in Western Grove, Ark.
Transition
The election of Morrison and appointment of Kline created an awkward transition in the A.G.'s office in Topeka and the D.A.'s office in Olathe. It also had an influence on the relationship between Carter and Morrison.
Morrison took umbrage that Carter spent time working with the Kline transition team, she said in the statement. There was tension between Morrison and members of Kline's staff, who began to conduct preliminary operations in the D.A.'s office. It was clear Morrison didn't want to turn over the keys of his office to Kline.
Morrison, prior to leaving office as D.A., wrote a letter to the Johnson County Commission suggesting that Kline be paid $114,000, nearly $30,000 less than Morrison earned in the same position.
"As district attorney for 18 years, I take great pride in the efficiency, effectiveness and integrity of that office," Morrison said. "I am deeply concerned that you are planning on paying my successor an amount that is not in accord with his experience or skill."
According to Carter's statement, the last time Morrison and Carter had sex in the Johnson County Courthouse was Sunday, Jan. 7 — the day before he was sworn in as attorney general in Topeka.
Carter told Morrison she planned to leave her husband, and she retrieved furniture from the family's Arkansas home for an apartment in Lawrence.
In February, Morrison pledged to tell his wife, Joyce, that he was leaving her as well. But he got cold feet. He telephoned Carter to tell her "I can't do it." Carter was surprised. She had moved from her home. She had an engagement ring. And she had set a wedding date of April 5. However, Carter's statement said, Morrison changed his mind several days after determining he would be miserable if he remained with his wife.
Carter was receptive to the idea of rekindling the relationship. The couple stayed together several nights at Carter's apartment in Lawrence. Morrison moved some of his personal belongings into the apartment in March.
The zoo, history
Morrison and Carter had an argument in March about Morrison's investigation of Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller. Kline had attempted to charge Tiller with violating the state's abortion statutes, but he was never was able to bring Tiller to trial.
When Morrison became attorney general, he promised to conduct a complete, independent review of the Tiller case. Carter said in her statement that she urged Morrison to charge Tiller.
She also said Morrison alleged Kline's approach to the abortion investigation was "unethical." The argument ended with Morrison storming out of Carter's apartment.
Morrison eventually filed 19 misdemeanor charges against Tiller. He rejected all 30 charges Kline had tried to bring against the late-term abortion physician.
"It was clear, after looking at the case, Kline's investigation of Dr. Tiller was not about enforcing the law," Morrison said at that time. "It was about pushing a political agenda."
The month of March also brought a telephone call from Joyce Morrison to Carter, according to Carter's statement. In that conversation, Joyce Morrison urged Carter to end all contact with Morrison.
During July, the statement says, Kline told Carter that Joyce Morrison had telephoned Kline at work to apologize for saying in a television interview during the A.G. campaign that Kline had "lost his moral compass" by raising allegations that Morrison engaged in sexual harassment 15 years prior with a female employee in the D.A.'s office.
Joyce Morrison leveled the criticism of Kline following a campaign appearance by Kline at the Topeka Zoo. She criticized Kline for a "malicious attack on the integrity of our marriage."
Kline had been trying to make a campaign issue of a situation in which Morrison paid no damages in two federal lawsuits filed by Kelly Summerlin, a one-time victim-witness coordinator for Morrison's D.A. office. It was the same job later held by Carter.
During a bar celebration of the 1990 conviction of serial killer Richard Grissom, Summerlin alleged Morrison turned to her and said that he loved his wife and kids, but was attracted to her. Summerlin said she rejected the proposition by Morrison, who later apologized at work to her for his remark. Morrison fired Summerlin about four months later. She pressed lawsuits in 1991 and 1992, but eventually dropped both legal actions.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one," Summerlin said last year. "I felt like a skirt."
Morrison signed a sworn statement in 1992 acknowledging having told Summerlin that she was attractive, but insisted he never made "sexually demeaning, suggestive or derogatory statements to Kelly Summerlin or any other member of my office."
"He's portraying himself as a squeaky clean guy," Ron Freeman, who was executive director of the Republican Party, said during the 2006 campaign. "The bottom line is, he's not."
Cashing in
In late March, Carter said in the statement that her relationship with Morrison was in trouble. Carter tried to sell the engagement ring given to her by Morrison. A staff member at a jewelry store on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo., told Carter the ring had two major flaws. She decided to keep the ring and hid it in her Lawrence apartment.
Her husband, John, periodically stayed in the apartment so Carter could spend time at home with their children. It was during one of these stays that John Carter found the engagement ring and an appraisal document with Morrison's name on it. He sold the ring for $4,750 in Mission and deposited the cash in a joint account with his wife, according to Carter's statement.
Morrison later told Carter that he was still interested in her and possibly wanted to have a child together.
Carter stayed at Morrison's apartment in Topeka several times in April and May. By the end of June, Morrison was to have moved completely out of the residence in Lenexa that he shared with his wife. He didn't, so Carter gave up her Lawrence apartment and moved back to her Roeland Park residence.
In July, however, Morrison told Carter they should get married.
According to Carter, Morrison regularly questioned her about progress by Kline's staff in prosecuting the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Kline filed 107 misdemeanor and felony charges against the Johnson County clinic.
In late July or early August, Carter's statement says, Morrison questioned Carter about the funding Kline's staff had spent to hire expert witnesses in the clinic case.
Morrison had previously announced he had found no violation of Kansas law by the Overland Park abortion clinic.
Carter and Morrison also discussed the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by the eight former Morrison staff members who were dismissed by Kline.
The 'Olathe 8'
One of the dismissed attorneys, juvenile division prosecutor John Fritz, said all of those fired had solid track records.
"Their careers have been marked by integrity and fairness," Fritz said.
While returning from a drive to Marysville in August, Morrison asked Carter to write letters to staff members who responded to their firing by joining the wrongful termination lawsuit against Kline. Carter said in the statement that Morrison said the letters should offer an apology by Carter about her role in the staffing decisions.
Carter didn't write the letters, which compounded the tension in their relationship.
On Aug. 27, a federal judge dismissed all but one count in the employment lawsuit against Kline.
Kline's attorneys asked to file a motion under seal with the federal court to shield a witness from being tampered with by someone outside the "Olathe 8" lawsuit. The request was denied by U.S. Magistrate Judge James O'Hara, who suggested the motion could be filed as a public document. The D.A.'s legal team said a confidential motion was appropriate because contents of the motion could cause someone "grave harm."
However, the judge concluded the motion's contents might have political consequences to both Kline and the person he was accusing of witness tampering. In the end, Kline never filed the motion in open court.
In September, Carter's statement says, Morrison again called Carter to profess his love for her.
To prove it, he went with Carter to a shop in Kansas City, Mo., to get a tattoo in the shape of a heart with the initials "L.C."
The two had more arguments. On one occasion, Carter said in the statement, Morrison called her a monster, sociopath and bad manager. He told Carter that he could sidetrack her effort to find a new job.
Carter's sex harassment complaint against Morrison went to the EEOC on Nov. 8.
Repercussions
House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, said filing of the EEOC sex harassment complaint against Morrison was a serious matter.
"Regardless of what your politics are, I'd hope we don't have that behavior," he said. "People of Kansas, I'm sure, vote to put good people in office who have high standards. It's really disappointing that we have people in leadership that get involved in this kind of thing."
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said it was difficult to know how to react without details of the situation. There could be fallout for the Democratic Party, he said, but the situation reflects the actions of a single individual rather than the thousands of people making up the party.
"There will be people who will be disappointed to hear the news," Hensley said.
Christian Morgan, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, said Morrison's affair with Carter raised profound ethical issues that went beyond partisan politics.
"The deception and apparent abuse of power and what is now a pattern of conduct is unsuited for the chief law enforcement official of Kansas," Morgan said.
Larry Gates, Kansas Democratic Party chairman, said it was unfortunate a personal tragedy had made its way into the political arena.
"There is personal sadness on both sides, and we need to respect the privacy of all involved," Gates said. "I respect Paul for taking responsibility for his actions, and I will respect his privacy as he works through this issue. I remain confident in his ability to do his job."
Morrison said he would continue to work on rebuilding his personal life.
"My actions caused pain and sadness to many people I love," he said. "I have been working for the past year to repair the damage this relationship (with Carter) caused to others. I ask you to respect my privacy as I work through these painful issues privately."
Two things strike me.
1. The mention of Phil Kline, a tertiary party in the story, as a Republican well before the mention of the primary party, Morrison, as a Democrat. Hilarious.
2. All this talk about Morrison being fired if the allegations are true. This is stupid. He should be fired for what he has admitted to, immediately. He’s admitted to gross irresponsibility to his family, a higher priority than his job, along with using his position and it’s luxuries (travel, offices, courtrooms, etc.) to perpetuate his irresponsible behaviour. If a person can’t be responsible to their family, why would one expect them to be more responsible to their job? Especially when he used the perks of his job in the affair.
A wise man once said he had a dream where people were judged by the content of their character. I wish more politicians shared this dream, and worked to make it a reality.
Who do you suggest should be the one to fire him? He's an elected official. He can resign or be impeached, he can't be fired.
Wonderful focus on a technicality.
I’m sure you’re aware that resignations can be influenced. And he should be impeached immediately.
Sebelius’s focus on whether or not some of the allegations are proven true (some have already been admitted to) is political cowardice. And it’s too common on both sides of the aisle.
Wonderful focus on emotions. Impeached on what grounds? Cheating on his wife? Despicable but not illegal. Because of a harassment suit? Even if she wins in court that, too, may not be grounds for impeachment. The only way Morrison could be impeached is if it is shown that he did use her to spy on Kline's investigations. That's a felony, for both of them.
And as for influencing resignations, I don't see that happening. Morrison switched parties to run. He's been a Democrat all of 2 years. He has little incentive to right by the party and take one for the team. My guess is he'll try to fight until it looks like it's a lost cause and then work a deal.
Those are all RAT resume enhancers!
Linda Carter isn’t too bright.
Emotions?
Did you not read the post at all? There are valid reasons that Morrison should not be in that office.
If your hurdle for supporting a purpose for office is merely legal vs. illegal you end up with a government like we currently have.
As I said, Reverend King had it right.
If you set up a ping list, I’d like to join. Thanks.
Are you talking about the regular Fox channel or the local one? Either way, I'm getting both. (I have Dish network.)
Before we got our wings...we had to memorize: ...."You are so easy to talk to....maybe we could lie on the bed and "cuddle".....or "waking up with you would be a wonderful way to start the day"....or "You are so special...I can't believe you're not taken"....there were a few others buy I can't remember them....those always worked! Holy BeJesus...I think I was a Democrat!!
My Fox News Channel was out for awhile due, I think, to the nasty weather we were having. All is well now. Thanks!
Same old ... same old. The f***ing you're getting ain't nothing like the the f***ing you're going to get when your spouse finds out.
Profound regrets rarely work ... and if they do it's probably because you're a 'Rat. Standards are much lower...
I couldn’t agree more. I think they do try to justify it but they will come up short in the end when their Maker looks at them with His all-knowing eyes.
Well, looks like he buckled and resigned VERY quickly.
I for one am quite glad.
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