Hospital critical of probe protocol (Hubbard/Minkler)

Troy (NY) Record ^ | 03/13/2004 | Robert Cristo

[sidewalk]

ALBANY - Private investigators hired by Mary Jo White to look into sexual misconduct allegations against Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard were never given clearance to conduct interviews at Stratton Veterans Medical Center Hospital earlier this month.

Hospital officials criticized part of the team retained by the Albany Diocesan Review Board Friday for having to read in a Record story that White's investigators were conducting interviews on the premises without permission.

Private investigator Frank Citera attempted to interview a close personal friend of the late Rev. John Minkler in the deceased priest's 11th floor office on March 2. Minkler, who was a chaplain at the VA, was found dead in his Watervliet home last month just days after he signed an affidavit stating he did not write a letter that allegedly linked Hubbard to sexual relations with two other priests.

The Albany County coroner's office has yet to release a report on the cause of Minkler's death.

The interview occurred in Minkler's office on March 2, but was cut short by the investigator, who walked away from the table after realizing Minkler's friend wanted legal counsel in the room.

Hospital spokesperson Linda Blumenstock said the investigators never asked VA security permission to conduct the interview in the building, let alone in Minkler's personal office.

"It was inappropriate for investigators to come in without obtaining permission from VA officials," said Blumenstock, who added hospital officials only found out about it by reading a Record article. "We regret the interview took place without the knowledge of the VA." The issue originally came to light on March 8 when Attorney John Aretakis made public a video tape detailing Citera's attempts to interview an obviously nervous witness on federal property.

The tape shows one of Minkler's closest friends (who requested anonymity) willing to talk with the investigator as long as Aretakis could stay for counseling, which is a witnesses' legal right. After repeated attempts to bar Aretakis failed, Citera refused to ask any questions

Hospital officials say the matter is closed, but Aretakis is outraged that the hospital officials will not conduct a more in-depth investigation into White's unauthorized tactics.

"They had an unauthorized meeting in Minkler's office, intimidated one of his old friends, misidentified themselves as federal agents, went through his (Minkler's) personal things and violated federal laws and protocol," said Aretakis, "and nobody is investigating this."

"They (hospital officials) are just slapping Mary (Jo White) on the wrist and burying it. ... That's totally inappropriate," he added.

White, a former U.S Attorney, was hired by the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese Review Board to investigate and issue a public report on allegations of sexual misconduct against Hubbard.

She was hired by the board as a private attorney, who is being paid more than $700 an hour. She is not a federal representative on any level in this investigation. White has maintained she would not comment on the inquiry until it is completed, but she did issue a statement Friday on the unauthorized tactics used by investigators at the hospital.

"The investigator was not aware of a requirement to seek prior permission," said White in a short release. "Our chief investigator apologized to (VA) Chief John McDonald earlier this week."

White has never answered why investigators would only interview a potential witness without the presence of her attorney, but acknowledged that Aretakis represents dozens of people in cases of alleged sexual abuse against the diocese, which could be a "conflict of interest" in the Hubbard investigation.

[Cincinnatus]

It's only a "conflict of interest" in the sense that it is contrary to the interest of Bishop Hubbard, whose sole interest is to whitewash his own wrongdoing. Going through Fr Minkler's private office in this case without the permission of the Federal Government is, I believe, called burglary, or at least criminal trespass. So sayeth Cincinnatus, Esq.

[sidewalk]

More allegations in the Capital Region clergy sex abuse claims.

This time they are directed toward investigators. Attorney John Aretakis said they are acting inappropriately.

Mary Jo White is the independent investigator hired by the Albany Diocese to examine claims Bishop Howard Hubbard had homosexual relationships in the 1970s.

White said she will also look into the death of Father John Minkler, who was found dead at his home in Watervliet in February. Minkler had served as a chaplain for the VA Hospital in Albany.

Aretakis claimed investigators interviewed witnesses at inappropriate locations, such as Minkler's office in the VA Hospital, which is federal property. Aretakis also said White's investigative team won't allow him to be present when they question his clients.

Mary Jo White's office said one of its investigators did do an interview last week at the VA and the investigator was not aware of a requirement to seek prior permission. An apology was issued to the hospital administrators.

The VA hospital called the interviewing "inappropriate and regrets the interview took place," adding there is no connection between the medical center and the investigation.

A spokesman for the Albany Diocese said the diocese is not involved in this part of the investigation and will not comment.

[Desdemona]

ping

[NYer]

Welcome to Free Republic! Are you in the Albany Diocese?

Posted last night ...

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Latest claim against bishop (Hubbard) may be spurred by family grudge
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[saradippity]

I certainly hope that Father Minkler's relatives,friends or lawyer were able to retrieve any personal/confidentiial papers he may have kept in his office before this group of investigators went in there and took it. The chutzpah of the "enemy" boggles the mind.

[Antoninus]

Going through Fr Minkler's private office in this case without the permission of the Federal Government is, I believe, called burglary, or at least criminal trespass.

How can anyone expect Mary Jo White to do a credible job when her minions are acting like this?

[american colleen]

It strikes me as odd that the person being questioned is also involuntarily paying (through the nose) for this "investigation" -- and why is Fr. Minkler's friend being questioned anyway? I thought the investigation was only supposed to find out whether Bishop Hubbard engaged in sex or not. How far has this investigation expanded to?