Giusto Says Newspaper's Conclusion That He Lied is False

Though he didn't initially plan to make a statement, Sheriff Bernie Giusto says it is necessary now.

Guisto's statement was made today in Portland

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Multnomah County Sheriff Bernie Giusto says a Portland newspaper's conclusion that he lied” about his knowledge of Neil Goldschmidt'’s sexual abuse of a minor female in the 1970’s is not true. Giusto says other media outlets were soon repeating the same story.

He says he made it clear from the beginning that he would not make comments on the matter because it was pending. Giusto is scheduled to appear before a Police Policy Committee and full Board under the DPSST. The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is investigating whether he may have violated moral fitness standards for Oregon public safety officers.

Though he didn't initially plan to make a statement, he says it is necessary now. Here is Sheriff Bernie Giusto's complete statement.

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November 1, 2007

Thank you all for coming this morning. I promise I will not keep you long. As you know, on October 5th, DPSST sent me a letter stating that it had evidence that I may have violated the established moral fitness standards for Oregon public safety officers. DPSST also informed me that my case would be presented to the Police Policy Committee and full Board at a later time. I take those allegations seriously and intend to respond accordingly.

After I received the letter, I informed the media that I would not answer any questions regarding this matter while it was still pending. The basis for that decision was that the allegations against me stem from statements I allegedly made to the media. In other words, the media are no longer simply covering this case; the media have become part of this case.

However, the events of the past three days left me no choice but to make a statement in response to the conclusions reached by some Portland media outlets.

On Monday, October 29, DPSST released to the media a 318-page DRAFT investigative report compiled by DPSST investigators. Along with the DRAFT report itself, DPSST issued a warning that, “drawing any real conclusion from the document at this point would be a mistake.”

Yet within hours one local newspaper published an on-line story claiming that “the state” has “concluded” that I “had lied” about my knowledge of Neil Goldschmidt’s sexual abuse of a minor female in the 1970’s. Soon, other media outlets were repeating the same erroneous story, prompting my response today.

1. DPSST has made no determination in this case. The Police Policy Committee will hear this matter on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. The committee’s recommendation will then be heard by the full Board on Thursday, April 24, 2008.

2. The DRAFT report represents a selective and incomplete summary of more than 5,000 pages of transcripts and exhibits. Within that DRAFT report are certain impressions of the investigators, which have been misconstrued as final agency action. I disagree with and intend to refute the investigators’ misinterpretation of the evidence.

3. The DRAFT report does not have my written response, which is due by 5:00 pm on Friday, November 16. I can assure you that my response will be a vigorous rebuttal to the three allegations against me. My response will be a matter of public record; the media will have to wait until its release to get my complete response. I will provide one example of a false and misleading claim in the DRAFT report, part of which was seized upon by the media this week.

In numerous cases there are misleading claims that are not supported by or consistent with the transcripts.

In the DRAFT report, DPSST writes that Fred Leonhardt asserts that in the fall of 1989 I told Leonhardt reprehensible details such as:

* While Neil Goldschmidt was the mayor of Portland, Goldschmidt raped his children’s babysitter;

* The victim’s name, her age of fourteen (14);

* When Goldschmidt’s “crime” occurred, and

* Information about the victim receiving cash payments from Goldschmidt through Goldschmidt’s staff.

DPSST then claims that “Leonhardt’s assertions are corroborated by Margie Goldschmidt.” That false and misleading claim is not supported by or consistent with the transcript of Margie Goldschmidt’s actual interview. To the contrary, Margie Goldschmidt’s statements to the investigators actually contradict Leonhardt’s assertions. Those important details are often lost in headlines but those details are critical to understanding the facts in this case.

Finally, I intend to have my case heard in the proper forum, which is before the Police Policy Committee and Board next spring. Further interpretation of these matters by the media does not serve the public’s understanding of the facts in this case. Anything I say to the media about this matter, including my statement here today, may become part of the never-ending record in this case.

Even as an elected official, I am entitled to some basic due process rights, including a fair and objective administrative process free from the taint of sensationalized reporting. So today I respectfully decline to answer any questions today relating to this pending administrative matter. As I said earlier, my responses to DPSST’s allegations will be presented in writing by November 16.

Over the past 33 years I have done my best to provide professional and principled leadership within the law enforcement profession. I continue to serve the citizens of Multnomah County who have twice elected me as their Sheriff. They deserve no less than my fullest attention.

End of letter

Source: Bernie Giusto