Jul 30, 2023·edited Jul 30, 2023Liked by Jeff Eager
I was both a very active Democrat and an elected DA for over 20 years. During almost all that time I represented Oregon on the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association, where I always took, as it turns out, false pride, in the "cleanliness" of Oregon politics.
Turns out Oregon has become increasingly "transactional," not only in gross felonies (like the La Mota/Fagan scandal) but in many millions of dollars distributed to mysterious "non profits," few of which have filed required IRS 990 forms, without which there is not even the gossamer of accountability.
Before anyone vest too much in the appalling behavior of powerful Democrats, remember the ongoing shenanigans of GOP legislators like Greg Smith, who seems to think he lives in an alternate universe when it comes to conflicts of interests.
As Shakespeare said (through the Duke) at the rend of Romeo & Juliette: "A plague on both your houses!"
Yep, Republicans do bad stuff too because they're people and people do bad stuff sometimes. Which is why we need functioning systems to constrain people with political power from doing too much bad stuff, or from doing bad stuff without serious consequences. We're in the process right now of determining whether Oregon has such a system. The results, thus far, are not good.
Maybe I'm being too nostalgic for the era of Democrats like Jeff Barker and Betsy Johnson, Republicans like Jack Roberts and Dave Fronhmayer, and both parties were not pegged to the extremes of their parties.
It’s partisan much more than ideological extremism that dominates today. It’s possible to be both, say, quite conservative and still be in favor of the rule of law even when that means your own team gets thumped. In fact, in my opinion, that’s a pretty substantial part of being conservative. It’s also part of being liberal. I’m pretty sure it’s not a part of being a progressive, properly understood.
Although I think the likelihood of a quick and quiet settlement is the most probable outcome I still have high hopes that the feds will come through and that will be the stimulus for Mitchell, Cazares or Fagan to throw a few other colleagues under the bus
It’s always fun to watch the bugs scurry around whenever a can of Black Flag appears on the horizon. The “Son of Sam” scam sure had Wyden running for his hidey hole! Like you say, settling before any proceedings take place will ensure the can being stowed back in the garage waiting for the next Oregon infestation.
It looks like they found Mike Marshall of Oregon Recovers to take “responsibility” for asking Kotek to fire Marks (couldn’t have been La Mota folks). This is very interesting because he told Willamette Week back in February that he was “surprised” that Marks was fired…weird.
None of this is a surprise. Perhaps this will go the way of national news about biden and co. Something bigger will "suddenly" happen to eclipse this event.
I was both a very active Democrat and an elected DA for over 20 years. During almost all that time I represented Oregon on the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association, where I always took, as it turns out, false pride, in the "cleanliness" of Oregon politics.
Turns out Oregon has become increasingly "transactional," not only in gross felonies (like the La Mota/Fagan scandal) but in many millions of dollars distributed to mysterious "non profits," few of which have filed required IRS 990 forms, without which there is not even the gossamer of accountability.
Before anyone vest too much in the appalling behavior of powerful Democrats, remember the ongoing shenanigans of GOP legislators like Greg Smith, who seems to think he lives in an alternate universe when it comes to conflicts of interests.
As Shakespeare said (through the Duke) at the rend of Romeo & Juliette: "A plague on both your houses!"
Yep, Republicans do bad stuff too because they're people and people do bad stuff sometimes. Which is why we need functioning systems to constrain people with political power from doing too much bad stuff, or from doing bad stuff without serious consequences. We're in the process right now of determining whether Oregon has such a system. The results, thus far, are not good.
Maybe I'm being too nostalgic for the era of Democrats like Jeff Barker and Betsy Johnson, Republicans like Jack Roberts and Dave Fronhmayer, and both parties were not pegged to the extremes of their parties.
It’s partisan much more than ideological extremism that dominates today. It’s possible to be both, say, quite conservative and still be in favor of the rule of law even when that means your own team gets thumped. In fact, in my opinion, that’s a pretty substantial part of being conservative. It’s also part of being liberal. I’m pretty sure it’s not a part of being a progressive, properly understood.
I loathe the term “progressive” - it is a self elevating definition that lacks real meaning. “Progressives,” of course, love it!
Although I think the likelihood of a quick and quiet settlement is the most probable outcome I still have high hopes that the feds will come through and that will be the stimulus for Mitchell, Cazares or Fagan to throw a few other colleagues under the bus
Yep.
Too bad it will settle and the accompanying gag orders will also prevent a tell all book. Too many ways to hide the truth when in power!
Great reporting. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Jack!
It’s always fun to watch the bugs scurry around whenever a can of Black Flag appears on the horizon. The “Son of Sam” scam sure had Wyden running for his hidey hole! Like you say, settling before any proceedings take place will ensure the can being stowed back in the garage waiting for the next Oregon infestation.
It looks like they found Mike Marshall of Oregon Recovers to take “responsibility” for asking Kotek to fire Marks (couldn’t have been La Mota folks). This is very interesting because he told Willamette Week back in February that he was “surprised” that Marks was fired…weird.
None of this is a surprise. Perhaps this will go the way of national news about biden and co. Something bigger will "suddenly" happen to eclipse this event.
A helpful reader provided me with a copy of Marks's tort claims notice, which I've linked here. Will update piece soon.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_C4QCreLeQ7jTq-yp1s1MeI5OwDlmKL3/view?usp=sharing