It’s a common practice in investigative reporting to have confidential sources. I do myself because in many of those cases, the information comes from a person who cannot afford to have his identity revealed for fear of reprisals. Often a person must conceal his identity because to do otherwise could mean the loss of his job at worst, impossible working conditions at best.
Perhaps that is why New Orleans TV station WWL scrambled for damage control when LouisianaVoice revealed the source of the leaked Louisiana State Police (LSP) audit that was so critical of the management missteps of former LSP Superintendent Mike Edmonson.
Obviously, WWL and its news partner, the Baton Rouge Advocate, were trying to protect the identity of the one who leaked the audit (or indeed, may not of even known the source—I’ve received anonymous tips before; the story of the attempt to bump up Edmonson’s retirement by about $100,000 is an example) but WWL got a little sloppy when, in the course of airing its story, showed a copy of the audit’s cover letter to Edmonson.
They either didn’t know or forgot that cover letter went out to only one person—Edmonson. Only two copies of the audit were printed and the other, sans cover letter, went to LSP.
So, by showing that letter in its video coverage of the audit report, WWL blew Edmonson’s cover even as Edmonson was, in my late grandfather’s vernacular, squealing like a stuck pig over the “premature release” which he said adversely affected his response to the audit—just the way he planned it.
By crying foul, he could claim his defense, in case of subsequent criminal charges, has been tainted. After all, a Baton Rouge judge recently ruled that while Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera is protected as a public official from legal liability for the contents of an audit of the Louisiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs, he is not necessarily protected by a news release issued by the auditor’s office concerning the contents of that audit. The judge, in his ruling, has allowed a lawsuit by the former secretary of Veterans’ Affairs to go forward on that basis.
Edmonson then, or most likely his legal counsel, saw an opening. A premature release of the audit before Edmonson had a chance to respond could conceivably prejudice the case against Edmonson. Accordingly, Edmonson (or more likely someone acting anonymously on his behalf) slipped a copy of the audit to The Advocate/WWL.
It might have worked had it not bee for the posting of that cover letter on WWL. That let the cat out of the bag and exposed Edmonson as the leak.
WWL, in an effort to save face, quickly removed the video from its web page after LouisianaVoice blew the whistle. Now there’s just a story but no video.
But as a LSP officials said on Monday, “There are a ton of screen shots of the letter floating around out there, so it’s not gone.”
Two quotes come immediately to mind.
From Andy Taylor, talking to Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show:
“There’s mischief afoot.”
From the late C.B. Forgotston:
“You can’t make this stuff up.”
Louisiana Voice 
How could a release of a Legislative Auditor’s audit findings prejudice a case? Someone arrested for rape, robbery, child pornography, treason, etc. has their name and picture splashed all over the news media even before they are formally charged. That isn’t said to prejudice the case to the point where the charges must be dismissed. It may result in a change of venue, but it doesn’t stop the entire legal process from going forward.
So let Edmonson foolishly try and play Courthouse lawyer. All he does is keep digging the hole he is in deeper.
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave….”
“Methinks the colonel doth protest too much”. Edmondson always enjoyed the limelight. He is getting plenty of publicity now, not like it use to be. Though he did many things to to bring the state police to the top of law enforcement not only in the state but also the nation, he threw all that away by not being “selfless”. That is what he always preached-selfless service. It’s a shame he didn’t practice what he preached. But several others also decided not to follow that value and followed the old saying “monkey see, monkey do.
While every one is fixated on Mike Edmonson’s criminal acts the public has to understand that his illegal acts were not committed in a vacuum. A complete and unbiased investigation will reveal that the [ Edmonson breakfast club ] and it’s members were all involved in this illegal activity. Look at the frequent flyers club and the benefits they received . You might conclude that they were bought and paid for. A picture of see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil exist of Charlie Dupuy, Ronnie Jones and Rodney Hyatt . This is the apparent summation of the failings of the Louisiana State Police. Also look at the Louisiana State Troopers Association, They plead guilty to ethics and were fined $ 5000.00 for giving political contributions in violation of State Law and apparently Federal straw donor laws. Investigate the connection, Charlie Dupuy and Mike Edmonson’s involvement with this and other L.S.T.A matters.
The public should also remember the four L.S.T.A. members that were removed from membership for exposing the L.S.T.A. wrong doings.
I wonder if with the new found integrity the L.S.T.A. will remove it’s members who have committed criminal acts. Remember the four retirees were removed because they embarrassed them by exposing illegal acts.
Amen La.Voice fan. He is done no matter where the leak came from. The damage is done and he did it all to himself by being a selfish,greedy pig.
The only bad part of this all is the fact that he shamed the Louisiana State Police forever. I doubt anyone will ever forget what he has done and I hope they nail his backside to the wall and that is not enough for a thug like him.
I can’t stand to look at him with that little half cocked chitty smug/smile on his face. He really thinks he is all that, boy if he would only know what everyone thinks of him he would go cry in the corner without his uniform on because this worthless thug never deserved to wear such a prestigious uniform like the State Police uniform. A piece of crap like himself is more deserving of an orange jumpsuit and no slippers or a bed sheet or a blanket to warm himself with. He needs to rot in jail for what he has done for shaming the State of Louisiana. Most people would have given their eye teeth for what he got served to him on a silver platter by Governor Edwards.
Edwards must feel bad right about now putting his trust in him and then he comes back and stabs him in the back with all this stupid unnecessary mess for Edwards to have to clean up. What an ungrateful despicable human being he is to even think he could get away with all this. Jail time, jail time and more jail time is the only cure for greed. Let’s see if he can get special services to clean his orange jumpsuit and special meals delivered to his cell and an escort to the cafeteria for lunch, yard time, television time, visitors(probably only his kids and spouse because no one will want to see his face after this mess.} Betcha he will feel really special when that happens, huh? I think this couldn’t have happened to a better piece of worthless crap like him.
I hope this man will never be able to wear any kind of badge or uniform ever again in his lifetime. Now that would be some sweet justice right there!
Jail him already!!!!!
The LSP leaders model and core values taught to all commissioned personnel was never attended by Edmonson or Dupuy. They never took interest in their own leadership platform.
Edmonson at one Commanders meeting with a straight face, stated,” I have the power to make a Monday a Tuesday.”
The man would have someone drive him across New Orleans with his posse late at night just to get free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at a well known hotel, just cuz he could.
It was well past his time to go. After JBE reappointed him he was heard saying often that he is the longest serving Superintendent. Well now he may be known as the first Superintendent who is a convict!
Oh dear Lord,Tarnished, if that could only happen for him to become the first Superintendent to be a convict. That would be the best Christmas present I have ever received in my 70 years of being on this earth.
Maybe then that would wipe off that chitty half cocked grin off his face for good!
Then we could all go around singing HO, HO, HO , Edmonson gotta go!!!!
Heh, wonder if I could patten that phrase. Dang, I might make my first million dollars yet on this thug.
Still boiling over laughing, even harder now!!
Well, all I can say is, two years ago this Friday, I warned then-Gov. Elect Edwards that, by re-appointing Edmonson, he was placing himself between a rock and a hard place (see beginning at the 1:30 mark):
http://www.jbefraud.com/appoint_edmonson_LSP.htm
I would now submit that the only thing harder than that “hard place” Edwards got himself between is his very own head. He does take the cake for being hard-headed.
Lord, do you think you could send Francis Grevemberg and Bufford Pusser back in spirit to help clean up this mess? Amen!
Thanks Angelo, I really need that good laugh today. I can’t stop laughing but I just had to thank you.