Attorney General Paul Morrison showed terrible judgment in engaging in an adulterous affair with a former employee. But it’s good that he plans to ask Stanton Hazlett, Kansas disciplinary administrator, to conduct an independent investigation. The claims of sexual harassment and trying to influence litigation need a careful independent review. If the claims are true, Morrison should resign.
Meanwhile, kudos to state Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, for showing admirable restraint in wanting more evidence before supporting the calls from some of his fellow conservatives to impeach Morrison. “There’s clearly political motivation involved in the situation,†he told The Eagle. “That’s what makes me cautious.â€
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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61 Comments
AG Morrison wants independent investigation by the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys of professional misconduct allegations against him, but a near majority on this Board are contributors to either Morrison or Sebelius!
http://www.kansasmeadowlark.com/2007/12-11.htm
How many Board members would need to recuse themselves? What if criminal or civil laws were broken? Who investigates that?
This should be investigated at the federal level. No state investigation will be independent.
Maybe when this is done we can start on that 9/11 investigation. Or perhaps investigate that land deal between Sue Schlapp and Tiahrt staff members that cost the city millions of dollars.
Oh no, that would be investigating Republicans. It’s a Democrat so no expense will be spared in determining where Morrison’s penis went.
Doug: Any wrong doing by Republicans should be investigated. Make your points, present your evidence. Laws must be enforced fairly and uniformly. No one should be above the law.
None of this matter should make anyone happy. There are at least two families that may be very broken, and healing will be difficult and will take time. Having a weakened Attorney General is not good for the citizens of the State of Kansas, whether or not I agree with him politically.
The evidence has been presented long ago against Kline, Schlapp, Tiahrt’s goons, Bush, Roberts, etc.
Yes an investigation needs to happen. Not about the affair but about the other things. This woman obviously has a major axe to grind, so it is correct to procede cautiously.
Ain’t nothing but a hound dog having sex all the time and anywhere at government expense.
Makes you want to have the government owned buildings cleaned. Who know’s what on that desk.
This woman obviously has a major axe to grind, so it is correct to procede cautiously.
Posted by: political_mom | December 12, 2007 at 06:08
Pmom what do you think is the axe she has to grind? She said she came forward for the same reasons she said she wouldn’t do what he asked. She thought it was wrong.
Maybe you know more about the story than I have heard. The coerrsion needs to be investigated for sure.
Doug it isn’t about the sex. He obviously lied to voters and also had his wife lie for him. He is our top law enforcer. Don’t you want to know if he is less than honest? Don’t you think this will affect his ability to do his job if the allegations are true?
A witch hunt against Morrison will NOT bring back Phil Kline.
He was soundly kicked in the pants and to the curb by the voters.
Obviously, some felt that sting on their own rear end and now want a bit of petty revenge.
J R my post wasn’t about Kline. I didn’t vote for him and certainly don’t want him back. It is about Morrisons ability to do the job he is paid to do. When you are fighting an EEOC case and also trying to repair your public image, a neccessity for a politician, how can you do your job?
The only one bringing up Phil Kline are not the ones who voted for Phil Kline.
Another rationalization session by some of ethical conduct in office. Would love to read that transcript from the trial of Morrison’s first EEOC harassment complaint to see if he stated any “untruths.”
I agree, this needs to be investigated on a Federal level with Morrison standing tall before a Federal Grand Jury to answer questions on issues he may have “fudged” in regards to sexual harassment in his Johnson County DA and how there appears to be a pattern of the same currently.
One way or another this thing needs to get cleared up. I am not concerned about the affair – my response to that is to give his wife Lorena Bobbit’s knife. However, the other allegations are infinitely more serious.
True? Not true? We don’t know. And we need to find out.
I think they should dock him for the time he spent frolicking in his office at taxpayers expense. What an arrogant jerk…Why should I believe a thing he has to say? He’s lost all credibility as far as I’m concerned, and why would anyone trust him? He’s just another fool that lets his penis rule his life.
Why do men usually give a name to their penis?Because they don’t want a stranger making all their decisions for them!
Sorry guys, couldn’t help myself.
In the old days we would have taken her word and fired him just like they do in every company in America today! He should step down without an investigation. If he had any honer at all for his family and for the person he had the affair with!
Morrison should NOT resign unless there is a criminal charge filed against him.
In the event that happens, he should probably resign, depending on the nature of the charge.
Before you Republicans get mad at me and call me a “traitor,” you should think this through:
This is a time for us to show that we are of a higher caliber than our critics wish to think.
This is a time to admit, in humility, that none of us could withstand a public airing of all our faults, without some embarrassment.
Besides, if Morrison resigns, the seat would most surely be taken by someone that we like even less.
We would then be up against an incumbent Democrat, in the next election, and some sympathy, among voters, for a guy that “cleaned up the office”. Face it, that is how the media will portray anyone who takes Morrison’s place.
Morrison was talked about as a possibility for even higher office.
Like Bob Stephan, before him, this will end his climb up the political ladder.
He is harmless, where he is. Completely neutralized.
He might even be forced to actually ENFORCE a few Kansas laws, in order to please those who have the power to impeach him.
Funny – I’m agreeing with Paul. He has probably been pretty much emasculated politically; the bast thing for him to do now would be to focus on his job.
As I recall, Stephan did some good things in office after his ‘problem’
It appears to me that both Morrison and Kline have single track minds:
One is focused on what goes into a woman, while the other is focused on what comes out.
Good one!
;^)
Just as there is a Bush Derangement Syndrome, there appears to be a Kline Derangement Syndrome. Folks, this is not about Kline — it’s about Morrison and his lack of control and lack of integrity — and perhaps more serious charges.
He ain’t what he portrayed himself to be!
I just received a call about Morrison on my work phone, and it came up “Homeytel” on the caller ID, with a “620″ phone number. I was kind of shocked, because the recorded voice on there said something to the effect that “we don’t or shouldn’t care what a person does in their personal lives, but Morrison has killed a child, and gave a website to refer to. I didn’t catch it, again, I wasn’t expecting it.
HD – agreed. Morrison’s situation needs to be investigated and cleared up.
Meadow
I’d be curious to know of those who contributed to the AG and the Gov, how many of those also contributed to republican candidates. Happens a lot doesn’t it? Point me in the right direction – I’ll find out myself.
“….but a near majority on this Board are contributors ….”
and couldn’t it also be said — a majority hasn’t contributed to them
not disputing the need for an impartial investigation — just want to point out a hole in your presentation .
I guess this is what the call was about. I guess Kline is not letting this opportunity slide.
http://70.166.25.138/fairtrialsinamerica/karbino.php
Get used to it, EagleS.
And if you don’t like it, feel free to leave . . .
WAH! WAH! WAH!
TOO BAD ES. MAYBE IF YOU TRIED A DIFFERENT NIC?
Censorship only applies to acts by the Government. Last I checked, the Eagle, and this blog, are private property. They can do what they want. It’s _their_ 1st Amendment right to delete speech they find offensive from their property.
“do I exist as a human once again?”
You depend on a blog’s editor to determine this? Pathetic.
Whoops, please remove the above as well.
The term you want is ‘non-person’ for the context in which you are attempting to use it.
Lets skip the sock puppet parade and get back to the topic, I think this all boils down wether Morrison abused his position to affect cases. The affair in and of itself isn’t a crime. As for ms Carter on the surface it would seem her claims of harassment are laughable, she wasn’t coerced into sex, but willingly had an affair with Mr Morrison. Sounds like she just wants paid now. If she wins and gets paid for sex whats that make her?
Whats the saying Tom something about hell knows no fury as that of a woman scorned ?
he ditched her — it’s pay back time — and she gets to keep the rock too
“gets paid for sex whats that make her?”
HAHAHAH
Hillary clinton?
Dont know Sol, but the girls on broadway go to jail for it.
Morrison may have betrayed his wife and maybe his girlfriend, but he didn’t betray the rest of us. We didn’t elect him to be Jesus Christ Incarnate; in fact most of us didn’t vote for him at all; we voted against Kline. Mickey Mouse would have beaten Kline by about the same margin.
The guy should make his peace with his family and his former girlfriend, pay any settlements out of his own pocket, and the rest of us should mind our business while he does it.
Jed
Should he remain in office? Isn’t his dalliances a betrayal of trust to those that voted for him. I’ve never had a job were I would have felt comfortable boinking a subordinate on company time in the conference room? I know CEO’s and mangers that have — most were found out and either removed or severly disciplined
Ken,That would depend on the circumstances. Some subordinates (male and female) think sleeping with the boss is a career move, and many bosses tend not to disillusion them right away. Some office romances work out beautifully and some marriages have been on the rocks for decades. And ex-girlfriends scorned aren’t always the most reliable witnesses around. I’ve worked for a number of companies and seen a lot of affairs and attempted affairs, and there is an awfully lot we don’t know and probably never will. All we really know is that Morrison had an office affair. If that alone disqualifies him for a job, he’s going to have quite a bit of company in the executive unemployment line!
Jed – my primary question would regard the other allegations – that he interfered with the operations of the office in any way. THAT, IMO, would be very serious.
Of course, the problem with these allegations is the old “hell hath no fury … “
Ben,Yes, that is a concern, but it’s often difficult to quantify in any meaningful way. Prosecutors are often judged by their conviction rate, which can sometimes be influenced by factors outside the control of prosecutors, and some prosecutors can get so aggressive in seeking convictions that justice goes by the wayside.
The argument that the affair happened so it must negatively affect the office wouldn’t stand up in most courtrooms. If it can be shown that he was screwing around on company time, that would be serious, but he could point to his predecessor who didn’t seem to do much of anything on company time except fish for a reason to charge Tiller with something.
Jed – on that we agree. One big problem we all face is that we are the most likely to meet people with similar interests in our workplaces. So, it is logical that we might develop friendships – and more – there.
I love how he used his family in his ads. I have my doubts that an investigation would do anything. Maybe Kathleen could get the investigation started. No, wait all the investigators are in Iraq. Isn’t that her excuse for everything???
TDT:
“I guess this is what the call was about. I guess Kline is not letting this opportunity slide.”
http://70.166.25.138/fairtrialsinamerica/karbino.php
In defense of both Morrison and Kline:
The “Bumblebee” is making confusing phone calls in Kansas about Morrison/Kline — IGNORE the calls, they’ve been going on for two years. I first heard about such calls by the “Bumblebee” on Nov 13, 2005, just after Morrison filed for office. Conrad J. Braun apparently is using Morrison’s recent problem to confuse everyone.
=====================Judge sentences California man to 60 days in jail for blackmail
Kansas City Star, November 2, 2005, DIANE CARROLL
Last year, Conrad J. Braun wore a bumblebee costume to court to demonstrate what he said was a sting operation against him by prosecutors.On Monday, Braun, 56, appeared in Johnson County District Court wearing a yellow and black striped tie. But the campaign had little effect on Judge Steve Tatum, who sentenced Braun to 60 days in jail and two years of probation for blackmail.
The charge stemmed from a 2003 letter Braun sent to the husband of his former wife, threatening to expose the husband as a “child abuser” unless he agreed to stay away from members of the Braun family. Tatum said the child-abuse accusation had no merit.
Sara Welch, assistant district attorney, asked for 29 months in prison. Braun has been harassing his former wife since they split 15 years ago, she said, and has been convicted on at least four charges because of it. She said he had violated every previous probation.
Defense attorney Bob Thomas said Braun had refrained from contacting his former wife or her husband in recent months, as Tatum directed. Tatum said Braun’s willingness to avoid that contact helped persuade him to offer probation.
Braun, who lives in San Diego, said his main motive has always been to maintain contact with his children, who are now grown.
Welch said that Braun continued his bumblebee campaign last week by leaving automated voice messages on some Johnson County telephones. Some residents complained, she said.
Braun said he did not mean to offend anyone. He said he came up with the bumblebee idea to interject some humor into what was a very difficult situation for him.
=====================
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jan/03/campaign_continues/
Wednesday, January 3, 2007Californian behind calls against Morrison. Call center owner was prosecuted by A.G.-elect
=====================
Johnson County district attorney’s office condemns ‘Bumblebee’ automated calls
Kansas City Star, Nov 23, 2007The Johnson County district attorney’s office received numerous complaints Wednesday from persons who received automated telephone calls that mentioned District Attorney Phill Kline.
Kline said his office condemns the calls and has not played any part in making them.
The caller identifies himself as Conrad J. Braun, who calls himself Bumblebee and once appeared in Johnson County District Court in a bumblebee outfit.
Braun has placed calls in the past attacking former Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison, now Kansas attorney general.
In the current recording, Braun complains about being found guilty in 2005 of a felony charge of blackmail and says he wants Kline to dismiss it.
Listen to you guys! Just slap him on hand, “boys will be boys” and all that other bulls**t.If it was Phil Kline who got caught with his pants down, you’d all be screaming for his head.It amazes me how you’ll give a pass to someone like Morrison and then condemn others because you disagree with their politics.Morrison should resign for abusing his office..clear and simple. He had an affair with a subordinate, that’s totally unethical..even if it was consentual. He deserves everything that’s going to be coming at him.
“This is a time to admit, in humility, that none of us could withstand a public airing of all our faults, without some embarrassment.”
I don’t agree…there is nothing I’ve done that I’d be embarrassed about anyone else knowing..and there are many out there who could say the same.Just saying “it’s no big deal because everyone does it”, not only is dishonest, it’s no excuse or rational for unethical behavior like his.
I don’t think a consensual affair while in office is worthy of losing a job. I do feel the other charge is far more serious, and warrants investigation. Nowhere did I say Morrison should get a slap on the wrist for that. If it happened, he needs to go. It’s pretty simple. But for an affair, nope.
What if Phil Kline had an affair with a subordinate in his office? Would you be so forgiving and willing to look the other way?Be honest now.
I agree the other charges are more serious..but someone in his position should be expected to be honest and ethical. He is a public servant, elected by the people..so he should be held to a higher standard.
Phil Kline was kicked out of office by an ELECTION.
The voters rightly thought he was a zealot on a personal crusade.
IF the voters are uncomfortable with Morrison, they can express it at the next election.
That wasn’t the question JR.
Would you expect Phil Kline to step down if he was caught in the same circumstance, JR?Think about it and be honest.
I don’t like Phil Kline..I think he’s a nut..but if he was caught in the same unethical situation as Morrison, I believe he would be treated differently than Morrison by the liberals.
I wanted Phil Kline to step down lots of times. It didn’t happen.
The election settled it.
Let that process work here as well.
Iguess it would also depend on how a successor to Morris would be chosen.
I admit ignorance to that.
I certainly would not want the ks house appointing a stand in. I’d want a vetted and thoughtful election.
Kansas is a crazy place. When the best you have is a Republican fed up with the excesses of his own party for AG, you have to be careful.
What if it was a gay affair? Would that make a difference? Is the public more tolerant of affairs between men and women than gay people?What about Larry Craig..what would have happened if he choose not to step down? Do you think Idaho would have tolerated him staying in office?
This is funny:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys9xn60IBXA
That’s off subject but topical.
Larry Craig appears to have skated by outlasting our soundbyte culture. I give him credit for understanding that the publics lack of an attention span would spare him in the short term.
I doubt he survives another election though.
So it will be with Morris probably.
You think your going to get an “independent” reveiw in this state. Get real, all you’ll get is another Kansas white wash, he’ll get a pay raise, a medal, and a large pension, expense account, and great insurance, not to mention paying for his latest mistress. Wake up Kansas.
Never mind Kansas, don’t wake up. It’s a lot of fun watching you act on naive perspectives. Keep it up Kansas.
The thing with the republicans is their hypocritical stance. No Craig committed a crime, he was soliciting sex. I don’t care if he has a gay affair. You know I think gay/straight relationships should be on the same level. He did something bad, but that’s a personal thing. I don’t care.I’m disappointed that he’s a jerk, but I’m not anymore concerned about his ability to do his job. Just like Clinton.
Larry Craig’s sin was not homosexuality, it was hypocrisy. If he just got up and announced he was gay, as far as I’m concerned, he should keep his job. He was vociferously denouncing gay people while he himself was engaging in anonymous gay sex. That’s the real sin!
Mary – First, I believe that some of us would be inclined to want Kline to step down if he was found out to have had an affair in office, but IMO, it’s probably more because we wanted him out to begin with, and this would have been the justification needed. Up until now, there had been no reason to want Morrison out.
Second, Craig was a gay basher that turned out to be gay, by most accounts except for his. The hypocracy is what bothers the majority on that one, not that it was a homosexual encounter.
So what about Paul’s hypocrisy as revealed in his campaign ads?Good family man?Good churchman?
The questions that should advise his fate as AG are whether he used his side action to spy on Kline’s investigation and whether the affair constituted sexual harassment. Yes on either should cause him to resign.
Agreed?
“I don’t care.I’m disappointed that he’s a jerk, but I’m not anymore concerned about his ability to do his job. Just like Clinton.”
So you don’t think having sex in his office during work interferes with his ability to do his job, PMom?
I don’t even have time to eat lunch when I’m working..
You don’t think his dishonesty and lack of judgement will interfere with his abilty to do an effective job in such a position of monumental responsibility?I think if he’s fool enough to screw around on the job with a subordinate, he probably can’t be trusted to make wise decisions in other areas as well.I don’t think Clinton was the shining example of a great president…his lack of self control cost our country too much and was a distraction that wouldn’t have happened if he was smart enough to keep his pants on.