It’s such a truism that it’s almost a cliché: if you don’t like the news, shoot the messenger.
That is precisely the scenario that is unfolding as this is being written, according to three separate reports received today by LouisianaVoice.
- The first is an unsubstantiated (to this point, at least) report that LouisianaVoice is about to be named a defendant in a defamation/libel suit by certain employees of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
That would be the Louisiana State Police (LSP), since those are virtually the only DPS personnel I’ve written about.
And if they want to play that game, I’m more than ready because any litigation on their part will open them up for discovery of every questionable, unethical or illegal act they have ever committed during their entire careers. If they don’t have a little dirty laundry they don’t want exposed, then bring it on.
Anyone can sue and whenever feathers are ruffled, the potential for litigation is a given, but it does not come without risks on the part of the plaintiffs. They will be propounded with more interrogatories and requests for documents than they ever thought possible.
But the other two actions, in my opinion, are far more ominous.
- A terse email from one person says simply, “Rest assured, he (State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson) has already begun trying to destroy you. He is frantically trying to learn who emailed you.”
- That’s a normal reaction by someone backed into a corner but for the third message received today by telephone. The caller said simply, “LSP has IT (Information Technology section) being paid overtime in efforts to determine who is communicating with LouisianaVoice and who is the ‘Trooper Underground.’”
If Edmonson is indeed finished at LSP as several sources have indicated, then there are two possible explanations about the timing of these efforts. One is they were initiated prior to the serving of those 18 subpoenas and while he was still trying to hang on to his job by discrediting his critics—and most likely cleaning house of those he deemed to be malcontents.
The second possible explanation is that as he exits, he fully intends to pull others down with him. And if the right (for Edmonson) person is appointed to succeed him, it will be a seamless transition and the witch hunt will continue unabated and heads will roll with collateral damage hopefully extending to the pesky media, i.e. bloggers.
And just to clear the air a little, LouisianaVoice is a Web blog which covers the entire spectrum of Louisiana politics and Trooper Underground is a Facebook blog that concentrates on matters of concern exclusively to Louisiana State Troopers and retired troopers. We are separate entities.
The ones behind this effort should know that if this is true, and they’re doing this without a valid search warrant, there well could be serious legal (read civil and criminal) repercussions for their actions.
Be that as it may, the efforts to out whistleblowers and to discredit those who report waste, favoritism, fraud, and other nefarious activities within the agency charged with protecting the state’s citizens presents a chilling prospect not just for LouisianaVoice or the Trooper Underground, but for all of us.
This is reminiscent of Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter’s raid on the home of a Houma blogger because the blogger, a city policeman, dared to criticize Larpenter. More puzzling even than the sheriff’s efforts to silence a critic fully protected under the First Amendment was the fact that a sitting judge actually signed the search warrant. Thankfully, it was quickly ruled unconstitutional by an appeal court.
It’s also reminiscent of a number of other tyrants, dictators, despots and demagogues down through history. Names like Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon come immediately to mind. There are others who ruled entire countries and waged wars while silencing critics. You know who they are.
These are the acts of desperate people who will go to any end to exact revenge on those who, unable to improve things from within, go outside the agency for help. Whether or you agree with them, were it not for the Baton Rouge Advocate (see its recent outstanding series on the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola), New Orleans TV reporter Lee Zurik, retired TV reporter Ken Booth, Lamar White’s CenLamar, Bob Mann’s Something Like the Truth, Robert Burns’ Sound Off Louisiana and yes, LouisianaVoice, to whom could these people turn?
The Attorney General? He’s too busy running for governor. The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney? We don’t know where the hell he is. The Louisiana Office of Inspector General? (Insert chortles, yuks and guffaws here).
So, let them come after us. We’re ready. If we go down, we go down swinging.
Lawsuits can be filed in both directions.
Louisiana Voice 
Never met a politician I couldn’t buy!
As an occasional contributor and a frequent commenter to your blog, I would so enjoy joining you in a lawsuit against Edmonson and his band of outlaws. Since fraud (a quantity not in short supply with Edmonson, Dupy LSTA, LSP Commission) results in treble damages, I will delight in paying upfront legal fees knowing that I stand an almost certainty of receiving triple my money back from Edmonson, Dupy, LSTA, the LSP Commission, and the LSP itself. Just airing in open court the pre, extra, and post marital illicit sexual relations of these people will make this the most followed case in recent memory. This is tabloid stuff.
Well done. Looks like you struck a nerve, if not a moral blow.
This is Par for the course for this bunch. Saw this group do this on my way out the door. They use the Major over Internal Affairs as their personal attack dog. The state police under this regime is nothing but the mafia in blue suits. They will not only try to destroy you but also your family and friends. Ask around why they moved the Captain from Troop A back to HQ. A major Barnum could control the Jewish attorney kidnapping Captain Devall so he went and cried to Uncle Mike, who transferred a whole group to appease one man. Everyday I look in the mirror thanking God I got out of that place with my retirement and health in tow. I pray for the troopers and their families. These grown men in the highest ranks of the department are criminals with a badge and are nothing more than modern day storm troopers.
Tom, the ones trying to get to you are shivering in their boots. You are right on target: you have a clear advantage in any lawsuit.
Several years ago I had American Home Shield (appliance/HVAC insurance) try to blow my claim off. I gave them a clear example, including industry photos/specs, that proved their investigator was full of BS. I sent an email to the HQ council and the CEO. When I threatened to sue (ProSe) in federal court in Fort Worth I compared my expense, filing fee, gas, and parking, to their cost of hiring an attorney. I also told them that my discovery process would be extremely onerous and would very likely surface information they did not want public to see. Homework time plus a couple of calls and emails and voila; completely new HVAC system including new ducting. Meeting new code requirements cost me $700. They paid about $3,500. Of course, I got a non-renewal notice…
We’ll make some popcorn and bring up the lawn chairs to watch the battle. I’m betting on you and your legal team to win this one if it turns into a donnybrook. Because there is only one right side and no gray area here. Anyone stupid enough to file suit against LA Voice or any other medium over reporting the truth isn’t worthy of the office they are desperately seeking to hold on to. Among other indiscretions, people who are not familiar with that pesky First Amendment thing generally go down on a TKO.
PS – all the king’ horses and all the king’s men can’t gain access to anyone’s personal email, cell phone, landline accounts and the U.S. postal service to try to put Humpty Dumpty together again.
If they had the ability and solid grounds, they would “just do it” and not resort to advanced warnings of same.
Perfect case in point: On January 10, 2011, Rev. Phillips openly confronted LALB attorney Anna Dow about her potentially having engaged in “misappropriation of funds:”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sru52zUDwKE#action=share
Dow followed her verbal threats entailing she and LALB Chairman Ken Comer suing Phillips depicted in the preceding video with a written letter to that effect: http://www.auctioneer-la.org/Dow_Threatens_Slander_Suit_FP.pdf
How did Phillips respond? He sent a letter providing exact directions to his home at which he could be served with the suit: http://www.auctioneer-la.org/FP_response_Dow.pdf.
Needless to say, no suit ensued; furthermore, upon Gov. Jindal’s folk viewing the preceding video clip, Ken Comer was relieved of his duties on the LALB (one of the few commendable moves Jindal made).
Sounds to me that, if the reports of IT searches with no warrant may be true, some other folks may soon be relieved of their duties in a fashion similar to Comer at the LALB.
I appreciate the mention of my blog, Tom, and you’re right. We try to provide a forum for folk to get their stories out because other outlets simply aren’t open to them.
Way to go! We do need you.
Tom,
Precisely why the man at the top, (The Governor) needs to,” make a decision” select a replacement, Give Command Guidance and Intent and “move on”. All Good Leaders know that, sure, swift, and certain action during times of turmoil restores confidence in the organization. Stalling will only lead to more illegal activity, cover up, resulting in actions contrary to good order and discipline. He is stalling right now, playing into politics rather than making a command decision. A West Point Graduate should know better.
But under the Edmonson Fraternity Style of leadership your reported activity coming out of LSP right now, that is normal. That Being, we didn’t do anything wrong, shoot the messenger, take care of my friends, and where is the next party. Edmonson has been out of control for over eight years.
Come Monday I believe you’ll see that command guidance and intent.
They are under federal investigation and their defense is going to be LV libeled us? It would be convenient if they reveal who Trooper Underground is so they can be given medals and promoted to be the new leadership.
There should be a related story in regards to the State Police this week on Sound Off Louisiana we are in the process of opening up a BIG can of worms. The ultimate matter is related to GOHSEP/FEMA fraud waste and abuse at the highest levels.
Attached is a blog that will give you an idea of where we are going with this, this may help a lot of flood victims of 2016 with answers to their questions of WHY did they flood.
https://billy0548.wixsite.com/mysite
The website with the 2017 LSPC meetings along with associated news article links (mainly Louisiana Voice links) is now updated, and anyone is welcome to visit the page at:
http://www.lspripoff.com
I’m sure more post 3/9/17 meeting news article links will be posted in coming days, perhaps as early as tomorrow.
Mr. Aswell they made try to do what they done to me in Calcasieu Parish as seen in this article attached (Injunction Relief) which I still to this day believe is Unconstitutional. It’s a new way of covering up criminal behavior at high levels of Government. The use of flood victims taxpayer dollars to pay Attorneys to deny access to evidence for information, I was going to provide to the flood victims “what a shame”!!
Clearly not what you call transparency!!
It would appear the limbo is lingering:
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/politics/article_217161ac-080f-11e7-a142-c7004e693660.html
Any updates ??
Looks like Tom (yet again) had credible sources. I’m sure you’ve all seen the breaking news. Bon voyage ME. And so long to the sweet times for Dupuy, Starnes, and the others in the FOM network.
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/politics/article_febae06e-05d1-11e7-b3e7-47a081091ed6.html
Bye Felicia.