Local News
Daily Astorian’s Lee Investigation Story False
On February 12, 2008 the Daily Astorian published a headline proclaiming, “Criminal Investigator Probes Lee” the article goes on to state that the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating Richard Lee with Page McBeth, a criminal investigator with the Criminal Justice Division, heading the investigation.
The problem is according to Stephanie Soden, media representative of the Oregon Department of Justice, there has never been a criminal investigation regarding Clatsop County Richard Lee headed by any agent in the DOJ department. Soden stated, “The Department of Justice did not conduct a criminal investigation of Clatsop County Commissioner Lee. A preliminary inquiry was conducted in response to a request that criminal allegations be investigated. That inquiry has concluded and DOJ determined that insufficient facts and evidence exist to warrant a criminal investigation at this time.”
When NCO first told her about the Daily Astorian Headline she said, “They got it wrong”. And later said that she would have to see it in order to comment further.
In an earlier conversation about 2 weeks ago Soden told NorthCoastOregon, “Either the District Attorney or the Sheriff will turn a case over to us.” Soden said, “Usually it’s the District Attorney, and we work with them to see if we have to get involved with a case.” Sheriff Bergin said that he did not issue a complaint to the Department of Justice regarding Commissioner Lee.
It is unclear why the Daily Astorian called a complaint to the Justice Department an “investigation”. The Daily Astorian has not clarified how they became aware of the alleged “investigation”. Usually the DOJ will issue a notification through Soden regarding investigations in an area. It is unclear whether the Daily Astorian contacted Sheriff Bergin after a tip from the Justice Dept. or someone else, or if Sheriff Bergin contacted the Daily Astorian on his own after waiting 2 weeks.
Complaint Procedure
According to Soden once a complaint is made the DOJ makes a determination as to whether or not the complaint has validity. After that determination the complaint is assigned an investigator and the complaint takes on the designation of an investigation. An individual cannot file a complaint directly with an agent, nor can a member of the public file a complaint with the Department of Justice. They would go through either the Sheriff or the District Attorney.
Richard Lee is on the Clatsop County Board of County Commissioners and has asserted that the Daily Astorian and its editor, Steve Forrester, have a vendetta against him printing slanted articles bordering on libel. Legally, libel and slander are civil wrongs that harm a reputation; decrease respect, regard, or confidence; or induce disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual or entity. The injury to one’s good name or reputation is affected through written or spoken words or visual images. The laws governing these torts are identical.
To recover in a libel or slander suit, the plaintiff must show evidence of four elements: that the defendant conveyed a defamatory message; that the material was published, meaning that it was conveyed to someone other than the plaintiff; that the plaintiff could be identified as the person referred to in the defamatory material; and that the plaintiff suffered some injury to his or her reputation as a result of the communication.
The Daily Astorian has published numerous articles in which they use Richard Lee’s name as a focal point, often in a negative light in the last year. Subsequently, Lee has refused any further interviews with the paper.
When District Attorney Josh Marquis was contacted by NorthCoastOregon.com in regards to the Daily Astorian story, while normally very outspoken on such issues, merely said, “I have no comment on this.”
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26 Comments
On Mar 3, 7:35 PM, Not Surprised wrote:
Reminds me of the last political assassination at the port.
What happened to all those dept of justice complaints, I mean “investigations” at the port? Goofy bastards.
On Mar 3, 8:13 PM, Mr. Accountable wrote:
Shouldn’t you be able to find out who went to the Dist. Att. and requested a DoJ investigation. FOIA or something, inquiring minds would like to know.
On Mar 3, 9:22 PM, Pamela wrote:
The DISTRICT ATTORNEY requested it. Everyone knows that by now. He threatened it months ago to several people about turning Lee in to the DOJ. Duh
On Mar 3, 10:24 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:
Good idea!
A “Public Information Request” is what it’s called.
Send the D.A.’s office one in the morning first thing.
Simple.
I’d like to read that one myself.
Share it with us soon as you get it.
On Mar 4, 8:59 AM, Mr. Accountable wrote:
a (PIR) eh, well at the same time lets send the daily A a - PIRFAF - public information request for all facts. Then we would get to see the story of how josh screwed up, settling for something that is used in misdemeanor cases to settle a felony. Or the collusion between Sam Patrick (a sitting commissioner) and himself. Proof that josh was not telling the truth was all over the Internet. Yet nothing in the paper. CCFOG how allegoric can that be, a true fit when the daily paper is behind them.
On Mar 4, 9:32 AM, Patrick McGee wrote:
a (PIR) eh, well at the same time lets send the daily A a - PIRFAF - public information request for all facts. Then we would get to see the story of how josh screwed up, settling for something that is used in misdemeanor cases to settle a felony. Or the collusion between Sam Patrick (a sitting commissioner) and himself. Proof that josh was not telling the truth was all over the Internet. Yet nothing in the paper. CCFOG how allegoric can that be, a true fit when the daily paper is behind them.
So you’re not really interested in getting documentation to confirm or deny the validity of the claim by this “Cyber Rag”?
Wasn’t it Sheriff Bergin himself confirmed the initial article of DOJ snooping around the community?
What does he say now?
On Mar 4, 10:32 AM, Mr. Accountable wrote:
All for it, maybe gamm can beat bartoldus to the scoop. This rag is great. With every move the daily A makes it just validates the legitimacy of NCO
On Mar 4, 11:35 AM, Patrick McGee wrote:
“All for it, maybe gamm can beat bartoldus to the scoop. This rag is great. With every move the daily A makes it just validates the legitimacy of NCO.”
Very few Americans (1%) consider blogs their most trusted source of news, or their primary source of news (1%).
On Mar 4, 1:28 PM, sally wrote:
Carrie writes well!!This blog is the best! I’m in the 1%, I consider blogs the most trusted source of news, refreshing to read the truth what is going on in our County.
On Mar 4, 1:53 PM, NCO Fan wrote:
As much as you would love to equate the NCO news venue with your blog the government administrations around Clatsop County do not, nor do its readers. It appears that so far on the average NCO has comparable local news and AP stories, statewide and national news and links as do any of the other online news venues in Clatsop County: KAST, KMUN, Seaside Signal, Cannon Beach Gazette and the online accessible Daily Astorian. Your constant bashing of the efforts of a newly established news venue is too bad. You could show support or give helpful critique, but the belittling just shows how narrow minded you are and filled with petty jealousy.
“48% of the U.S. uses the internet as their prime news source……….and only 10% say the traditional newspaper is their main source.”
On Mar 4, 1:54 PM, NCO Fan wrote:
The above comment was addressed to McGee.
On Mar 4, 2:11 PM, mcgees brains are full of seafog wrote:
what is pretty funny is that i never noticed mcgee making comments on the daily astorian site DEMANDING PROOF of a DOJ investigation, or provide documentation yet here he is DEMANDING PROOF here? he’s such a buddy-buddy of the DA’s and he thinks his blog is just as newsworthy why doesn’t he fill out a PIR and get the info himself? scared of Andrea, maybe? another thing, igit, doj “sniffing around” to validate a complaint is a far cry away from a doj “investigation”. it would be exactly the same as saying the Oregon State Bar was investigating Marquis every time someone sent in a complaint on him.
On Mar 4, 2:17 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:
“Your constant bashing of the efforts of a newly established news venue is too bad. You could show support or give helpful critique, but the belittling just shows how narrow minded you are and filled with petty jealousy.”
That’s purely false Bartoldus.
As a matter of fact I would be the first to offer my kudos and besides what the hell does my view have to do with the overall suucess of this or any other media venue in the first place?
I am just one of many voices coming out of the wilderness that has every right to express his view to you or anybody else.
On Mar 4, 5:13 PM, Hippy Frank wrote:
What Mcgee’s posts lack in quality they more than make up for in quantity.
On Mar 4, 7:49 PM, wahwahwah wrote:
_As a matter of fact I would be the first to offer my kudos and besides what the hell does my view have to do with the overall suucess of this or any other media venue in the first place?_
Where did the person say your viewpoint had anything to do with the overall success of anything? You WOULD be the first to offer kudos? What’s that mean? Seeing how your kudos are ALL back handed a kudos from you is like a gift from an ancient Greek.
_I am just one of many voices coming out of the wilderness that has every right to express his view to you or anybody else._ Of course you have that right. And those viewing your constant harping of someone doing something worthwhile with their young lifes have a right to judge you for it. You are a turd.
On Mar 4, 8:56 PM, Country Boy wrote:
“All for it, maybe gamm can beat bartoldus to the scoop. This rag is great. With every move the daily A makes it just validates the legitimacy of NCO.”
Patrick McGee wrote:
Very few Americans (1%) consider blogs their most trusted source of news, or their primary source of news (1%).
Were do you find that only 1% number? Or is that one of your normal facts?
I like this blog. It is more factual than the Daily A
On Mar 4, 9:11 PM, Fat Man wrote:
The Daily Astorian has to be Patrick McGee’s paper. After printing a total Lie about Richard Lee and finding out Friday that it was a total falsehood they still have not corrected or ran an apolagy
On Mar 5, 9:21 PM, another looser wrote:
My favorite part about the astorian is they don’t realize how fucking stoopid they are and how they clearly show they are rookies in training. Tonights bit from gamm-a radiation about “someone overhears a conversation in a bar” about something lee supposedly said. Give me a break! Rookies. I heard something in a bar once. I am actually embarrassed for gamm-a.
On Mar 5, 9:57 PM, THartill wrote:
<i>overhears a conversation in a bar<i>
I guess I read that, but really didn’t even notice. Now that I think about it, if I read that in another established news source I would be like WTF!!
This Justice Dept. Investigation thing has really lowered my opinion of the Daily A. In fact I should of had this story the day it came out in the Daily Astorian. I talked to the DOJ that day, but only talked about the process and didn’t mention Lee because I wanted a unbiased answer from the DOJ about the process.
I found out about this actually by accident....I called them last Friday to see how the Richard Lee investigation was going and Stephanie said “I don’t know who that is....what county are you from?” I told her Clatsop and she said “we have not done any investigations in Clatsop in at least 3 months”. I said “not even Preliminary?”...."nope"....."but I’m reading the Daily Astorian article right now....The Justice Dept. is investigating Richard Lee"...."Well they got it wrong”.
On Mar 5, 10:58 PM, Taylor Sands wrote:
We can hope that Mr. Lee sues the pants of Forester & Co. for that libelous story.
On Mar 6, 5:45 PM, Fat Man wrote:
I am shocked that they have not printed a retraction now that their lying has been exposed. Is it becaust that might allow people to make a truthful desion about this recall. They might be doing it 4-5 days after the ballotts go out so that the uninformed readers of the daily A would vote their way. That is low down!
On Mar 7, 4:19 PM, 45 Year resident outsider wrote:
Just read the Daily Astorian article on Lee recall ballots being mailed out. No
mention of the Justice Department non investigation was listed. Just a
rerun of the old made up news over and over. The perception within the article is that what ever the Lawyers representing the county have said must be total facts, and we all know better than to believe that rubbish. A tainted and spun article.
On Mar 12, 6:43 PM, voter wrote:
Still no retraction from the paper, they owe Mr. Lee an apology!
I don’t live in his district, if I did I would vote a big NO for recall!
On Mar 13, 8:26 PM, Jon Dana wrote:
Well well you believe that Stevie F, did you read his op-ed tonight. Not sure if he reminded me of the Big Bad Wolf (huffin and puffin) or Bobby Flay looking for a throw down. Not really sure what the rant was all about, LEE not wanting them to report this or that or whatever. Maybe the case I don’t know. But what I do know is usually only half the story gets printed and the part thats left out has most of the truth in it. The op-ed just seemed like a little more free advertising for CCFOG. I hope nobody takes up his little challenge cause that is what he wants, an excuse for more free ads down the home stretch. Do you really think your going to win an argument in HIS newspaper.
On Mar 29, 9:35 PM, Dave Cummings wrote:
I have read all your comments about richard lee . All I can say is he owes me $150.00 for working on his ( lewis and clark nursury) computers.
I work for a business that also gave him access to a forklift to which he used for a number of years to run his businesses all the while he purchased tractors,zero turn mowers,3 company pickups, a motor home, and a suzuki suv instead of a forklift that was so critical to his businesses. I kept records of the times and the years he bilked the business that I work for and think it is a damn shame someone else has to subsidize his business at the expense of someone else.
I did a lot of research into the kind of mind that does this sort of thing and guess what ? if you type in the word sociopath in goggle search you will see richard lee’s photo at the description ...
On Mar 30, 10:01 AM, Jennifer Moore wrote:
Dave, if you believe I (Lewis & Clark Nursery) owe you 150.00 for computer work why not walk across the street and talk to me. I see you almost daily. I must of been mistaken when you Dave were unable to fix the problems I was having and you told me just to do something nice for your employers, which I did. I did not get a bill for anything.
It is true we did borrow the forklift on occasion, but always tried to make it right with the owners.
I am suprised you are so concerned at what we have purchased. The 3 company pick-ups have nothing to do with Richard Lee. Two of the pick-ups are my hubands and my personal trucks, one purchased in 97 before the nursery was ever open and Mike was still cutting timber, and the other was purchased with my own money, the third is a landscaping truck. The landscaping crew owns several mowers, weedeaters, edgers, chainsaws, ect. all of which were purchased from the business you work for.
Your employeers must real be upset because two days ago I was told if I ever needed a tractor with a front load I could borrow theirs.
I am so tired of the misinformation and the bashing by people who dont have the correct information.
Dave I will walk over to talk to you when I see you are home.