A Colorado appeals court ruled in favor of Colorado Governor Bill Ritter's refusal to honor an open records request by the Denver Post for personal cell phone records. The Post objects to the ruling in a recent editorial.
In the lawsuit, Ritter acknowledged he mostly used his personal cellphone to conduct state business. Not only that, but the majority of calls the governor makes on that cellphone are public business.
Post editor Gregory L. Moore said the newspaper is contemplating its next move, and very well may appeal the decision to the Colorado Supreme Court. "We are baffled and disappointed with the appeals court decision and continue to believe that government business — whether conducted on a government-issued or personal cellphone — should be subject to public review," Moore said.
It may be worth noting that the computer with all the records of an earlier Ritter campaign finance scandal mysteriously disappeared in a burglary. The phone records cannot be so easily erased.
Ritter also spent $200,000 taxpayer dollars on photography and videography. Denver Channel 7 reports.
Ritter's office said it is saving money by not hiring a staff photographer.
Should those photos and videos inevitably show up in the Governor's reelection campaign, the taxpayers can decide if the $200,000 was well spent.
As if secret phones and $200,000 photos were not outrageous enough, rumors persist that Ritter and his Deputy Chief of Staff have had an extramarital affair, as reported earlier by Election Reform Examiner.com.
Governor Bill Ritter and US attorney nominee Stephanie Villafuerte had an affair as early as 2006, confirming reports circulating among political "in-the-know" for years, according to a source who chooses not to disclose their identity.
The Governor sees nothing wrong with his conduct, as he demonstrated by confidently fielding calls and questions on the Mike Rosen show Monday. One source says the Governor feels entitled to charge taxpayers for everything, so the $200,000 campaign photos should not surprise anyone.
Perhaps one of those insiders will fess up. Arrogance creates blind spots, but even loyal followers often see the light.
Comments
note that governor ritter was not identified by party in this article.
One source says something I completely made up for fun when I play journalist.
Jake: Thanks for taking the time to comment! Especially in view of your obvious superior intellect and judgment. I don't aspire to be a professional mainstream journalist. You really believe they do a better job? Oh, let me count the ways the msm fails to report on anything of substance in the entire state of Colorado...or the country. Jon Stewart does a better job. The NYT, WaPo - all just parroting whatever the White House and the Democratic Party wants to propagate. I much rather be a play journalist and the target od scorn by anonymous bloggoons like yourself.
Awww, poor Jan..you got all worked up because of my little comment? I hope you keep going with your little project - it is endlessly entertaining.
Really, I meant no harm. I respect your work; I just thought the 'one source..' statement was funny.
Jake: Nevermind....since I do this for love, not money, it is unlikely that anything will stop me. I'm not politically correct, so generally I believe it is better to be rich than poor, right than wrong, safe than sorry, and appreciated rather than scorned. So, thanks, I guess.
Really, I meant no harm. I respect your work; I just thought the 'one source..' statement was funny.
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