Devon Anderson, the interim DA, has found herself in a position where she can no longer debate Kim Ogg and has cancelled (some say has declined) all remaining debates. Political consultants often warn prosecutors that their trial skills do not translate well into the political arena. That is certainly true for Devon.
Over the last few weeks, Harris County voters have seen three debates between Kim Ogg and Devon Anderson: Fox 26 debate (in three parts: 1, 2, 3); Red, White, and Blue on PBS; and Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall.
On Sunday’s Newsmakers show, Devon’s scowls grew more pronounced, especially when discussing her special deals for friends of the DA. When the topic turned to Denise Pratt, Shawn Carrizal, and Ryan Chandler, Devon provided a look into the Anderson administration. She said that she was forced into a secret deal with Denise Pratt because she did not want that case to linger like the case against Victor Trevino, the Precinct Six Constable. And Devon said that she did not tell the public about the Pratt secret deal because she was not asked about the case. Devon and Pratt had the same political consultant, Allen Blakemore.
As a reminder, Trevino was indicted by a Harris County grand jury on November 16, 2012, for misapplication of fiduciary property, abuse of office, and tampering with a government record. Trevino is represented by Chip Lewis. Lewis was at the forefront of Mike Anderson’s campaign for Harris County District Attorney. Even though Anderson told Big Jolly that he did not have a special relationship with Lewis, over $10,000 was transferred from Lewis’s pocketbook to Anderson’s campaign coffers.
Lewis told reporters that Anderson’s victory proved that “our electorate cares about the integrity of the DA’s office.” Meanwhile, Lewis was busy informing Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack about secret grand jury matters. When Mike Anderson passed away, Lewis thought that Governor Perry’s appointment of Devon Anderson was “in the best interest of Harris County.” Lewis, someone who makes a living defending folks, also said that he understands that “Judge Anderson and Judge Hill discussed [Anderson’s inheritance of the position of District Attorney] extensively.”
Since January 2013, Trevino’s case has been reset 13 times and transferred from the 351st District Court to the court of Susan Brown, the same judge that led the runaway grand jury. Devon told Newsmakers viewers that she made a special deal with Pratt to prevent a delayed process like the Trevino case. The problem with that statement is that she is prosecuting Trevino and delaying the case now until after the election. Watch what happens after the election is over.
Then, Devon brought up the Ryan Chandler situation. Chandler is the former Houston Police Department homicide detective who was fired for lying and incompetence. Devon claimed to have no information on the Chandler situation because she recused herself from the investigation. Kim Ogg asked Devon to ask the court, once again, Susan Brown, to unseal the orders for more transparency. Devon told the audience that she originally asked the court to seal the orders but her hands were now tied because she recused herself. Meanwhile, Lewis has been making calls to the media on Chandler’s behalf. Shouldn’t he be working on getting Victor Trevino a Devon Anderson sweetheart deal?
Devon presumably recused herself from Chandler’s investigation because Chandler is married to Inger Hampton, leader of Anderson’s conviction integrity unit. Wrongly convicted individuals must feel safe with Hampton leading that charge. Open records requests revealed that Hampton was covering for Chandler regarding the absence of evidence in criminal cases and sending messages containing case information directly to Chandler.
Devon said that she asked Susan Brown to appoint an attorney pro tem. We know that Brown appointed Jeff Hohl, a former intern at the Harris County District Attorney’s office and current Montgomery County prosecutor. After a perfunctory investigation, the Montgomery County District Attorney, Brett Ligon, a former lawyer for the HPD union and another Allen Blakemore client, announced that no charges would be filed against Chandler.
So, here we are. Susan Brown sent the case to Jeff Hohl, a former Harris County DA intern who was licensed in November 2010. Has this guy even tried a murder case? Is he capable of evaluating a dirty cop who ignored murder victims?
The fact that Jeff Hohl was the attorney pro tem may be shocking to you because everyone was led to believe that the attorney pro tem was Brett Ligon. Then, Phil Grant, the first assistant in Montgomery County, claimed that he investigated the Chandler case. Grant told the Houston Chronicle that he was the attorney who “made the decision.” Of course, my favorite part of that Chronicle article is the fact that Blakemore is referred to as “Mark Blakemore.”
Throughout this article I mention a number of connections. These connections are crucial to understanding the Anderson-Lewis-Brown cabal. Devon’s latest campaign finance report provides more insight into her administration. Chip Lewis gave Devon two donations: $1,000 on September 17 and $9,100 on September 25. On September 24, Devon accepted $2,000 from former Harris County DA Chuck Rosenthal, who resigned in disgrace after it was revealed that he sent racist and sexist emails while serving as DA. HPOU who is defending Ryan Chandler and working with him to get his job back, donated $5,000 on September 24.
Throughout the debates, Devon stresses the importance of the human trafficking division. She believes that human trafficking is one of the most serious offenses facing Harris County. That means that she has staffed this division with only two prosecutors. Until recently, the division was manned by one prosecutor, Ann Johnson, hired by Mike Anderson. I guess Dr. Steven Hotze was not consulted on this hire. This is the same Ann Johnson who ran against Sarah Davis in 2012 for House District 134. Shockingly enough, Chip Lewis hosted a fundraiser for Ann. I wonder what Ann thinks about the latest push poll for Devon that emphasizes Kim’s sexuality. Yes, the whisper campaign against Kim Ogg has begun because that is the only card left for Devon to play.
Yesterday, the Houston Bar Association released the bar poll. Kim won that even though Devon Anderson’s office has over 300 votes and should have easily won. Her leadership style must not have won her too many friends in the office.
When asked about the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement of Ogg, Devon claimed that she was proud to not receive that endorsement. Devon’s exact response was: “I feel like I’m on the right track if the Houston Chronicle is not endorsing me.” Funny. If that is the case, why did Devon attend the Chronicle interview?
What can the rank and file prosecutors be thinking right now? I feel sympathy for many of them who have endured the succession of leadership. The truth is that Devon Anderson will do and say anything to be elected. And her besties within the office – the same people who worked against Pat Lykos within the office – have established a mean girls atmosphere where cliques reign supreme. There are still good people who work hard every day at the Harris County District Attorney’s office. What do they think about the FOD (friends of Devon) whispering about Kim’s sexuality and making her private life a political issue?
During the debates, Devon said that Mike told her that he wanted Devon to take his place as District Attorney. Did they tell Belinda Hill?
UPDATE
After this story was posted, Sara Kinney, a representative of the Anderson campaign and an employee of Blakemore & Associates, contacted David Jennings with two suggested edits.
The Anderson campaign claims that Devon Anderson has “declined” further debates rather than “cancelled” all remaining debates. Since August, the League of Women Voters (LWV) has been working with both candidates to schedule a televised debate. After the Houston Newsmakers show was filmed, Anderson withdrew her participation in the LWV debate.
The Anderson campaign’s second suggested edit concerns Anderson’s reaction to not receiving the endorsement of the Houston Chronicle. They did not like my original sentence: “When asked about the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement of Ogg, Devon claimed that she was proud to not receive that endorsement.” Rather than quote Anderson, I provided the readers with a link to the story and a brief summary. I encourage you to click over to the debate on the Houston Newsmakers website and watch the exchange (at 16:50) and decide for yourself if my characterization was correct.
This reads like a novel.
Crooked DA’s always make for great reading.
I supported Mike Anderson over Pat Lykos, but I support Ogg well better than Davon Anderson. 1) She is not qualified. 2) She was appointed by Rick Perro over much more qualified prosecutors as a political strategy (like the McCain / Palin) and not for what is good for the people. 3) Davon has kept incompetent and corrupt personnel in the integrity office who refuse to charge corrupt police and politicians showing us she is just one more political protecting her Republican good old buddy friends, who are really not Republicans nor conservatives. Ogg is just a much more qualified well round candidate. Dr. Oto Cantu
None of this convinces me to vote for Ogg. I MIGHT withhold my vote for DA Anderson, but there is no way that I will vote for the Democrat.
I would agree with that unless that “Republican” is going to do something that embarrasses the party like Todd Akin, or damages one of the columns of activist support the GOP relies on.
I would also say that the fact that Republicans question their own is a strength, not a weakness.
2016 is coming, we can’t afford any mistakes.
Sounds like you already have a Democrat in office who just happens to claim she is a Republican. Seems to be a lot of that going around in this state.
If you think that, just wait and see what an Ogg regime would be like. Look at her endorsements – a who’s who of current and former Dem officeholders – first one on the list Mayor Parker. The Dems are salivating at the prospect of winning this office.
Plus, the Dems would never call out their own the way Republicans do. Compare how Chuck Rosenthal’s issues (which were primarily ethical) were addressed versus the Travis County DA issues (which were criminal).
Warren, I was in Judge Hoyt’s court the day Rosenthal resigned and watched the proceeding. Rosenthal admitted to several crimes under oath but was never charged, he resigned instead. I think Victor Trevino and Doug Karpen would love to keep Devon, they are democrats. Read up on Doug Karpen and see what Devon did there for another Chip Lewis client.
I had only so much time to write. It sounds like a need to list out all the crimes the Anderson’s have committed.
Warren, have you ever met Kim Ogg? She is a lot more conservative than Devon. The bonus is that you don’t have to guess which side of an ethical question Kim will land. You really don’t with Devon either, it’s always the wrong side.
No matter what he did, Rosenthal DID resign, which was the proper thing to do. The Travis County DA, who was convicted of a crime and served time, is still on the job. That’s how the Dems do business.
I did some Google searching on Karpen and mainly found that he was no billed by a grand jury. What’s the DA supposed to do? As far as Trevino goes, if the DA prosecuted him more aggressively, she would be acused of partinsanship and racism.
Don, the best I can offer you is that I might not vote for DA Anderson, but there’s no way that I will vote for a Democrat. If Ogg’s is as conservative as you say, she should switch parties. Look at her endorsements – she will HAVE to be beholden to them.
Warren, thank you and I respect your position. Great comments and I am always appreciative of them.
Right back atcha, Don. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this forum.
Indeed a can of worms.
Is there a “none of the above” on the ballot?
Why do we increasingly see BJP pushing liberal candidates? I agree with Warren; if you look at Ogg’s endorsements, as well as her own statements, there’s no mistaking her liberal roots. No way will I, or any true conservative, vote Democrat…..
That’s a poor attitude. You should vote for the best overall candidate. If you vote Straight party, any party, you are contributing to the crappy political environment we currently have. In a DA race, I don’t think party affiliation really matters – there’s not a lot of Dem vs Rep issues to deal with.
Thank you Ross. It should be a great concern to everyone that the only two things in my article that concerned Anderson were the words cancel and my description of what she said about the Chronicle. People need to really think about that.
Worst is left unsaid about Harris County DA Devon Anderson. Anderson was “appointed” by “pro-life” Gov. Rick Perry after the death of her married partner in judicial criminality via the 185th Judge Susan Miller Key Man “runaway” Jury. Devon Anderson, controlled by Chip Lewis of Enron/Lay fame, then presided over the “exoneration ” of Houston’s own Kermit Gosnell- Dr. Douglas Karpen. Karpen like Ken Lay, and Vic Trevino is Chip Lewis’ client. Karpen was exposed by three 14 year veteran employees of routinely twisting the heads off of newborn babies, or ending their lives by plunging his finger into their abdomen’s at live birth in his United Surgical Partner’s Aaron Clinic Ambulatory Surgical “outpatient” late term abortion clinic. Planned Parenthood I-45 is also late term abortion ambulatory surgical-“outpatient”- clinic, but with admitting privileges from Cardinal Dinardo for their Baylor Medical School abortionists at St. Joseph’s Medical Center (if they have insurance, otherwise Ben Taub) since their grand opening presided over by Mayor Anise Parker in 2010. Karpen and Planned Parenthood I-45 are the only two Houston abortion clinics left standing after the HB2 “outpatient” mandate was declared constitutional by the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. Milla Perry Jones, wife of Buddy Jones who lobbies for Baylor Medical School, is a government lobbyist for United Surgical Partners (USP) which has a 100{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} franchise monopoly on free standing “out patient” doctor owned clinics in Texas. Since Obamacare did not allow United Surgical Partners’ out patient clinics into Obamacare since such outpatient clinics because of needless testing are 20-30{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} more expensive than other healthcare facilities, Perry as governor for his lobbyist sister rejected Obamacare for Texas to save USP’s monopoly.
Devon Anderson covered up HPD’s homicide’s investigation of Karpen ordered by Dewhurst for infanticide which is another “non-investigation” of murder by Parker’s HPD. She hit two birds with one stone in the exoneration by Key Man Grand Jury of Karpen. Covered-up the HPD’s non-investigation-and made sure that “pro-life” Gov. Perry’s partial ownership of Karpen’s clinic and practice through family shares of USP would never see the light of day. HB2 was Standard Oil Trust type legislation to eliminate all independent “mill” competition- Dr. Rosenfel for an example- who were not willing to pay USP a million dollars to become “outpatient”. This insured that USP and Planned Parenthood I-45 would inherit a virtual monopoly of all surgical abortions and especially aborted babies to be processed into bio-products at the third floor Planned Parenthood I-45 “Donation Center”. Abbott as Texas Attorney General orchestrated with Chip Lewis through Anderson this whole miscarriage of justice allowing Planned Parenthood and Karpen to continue to kill babies and USP a monopoly.
Likewise, Anise Parker whose wife is treasurer at Planned Parenthood I-45, who has said that men dressed as women using female bathrooms are Houston’s “most vulnerable citizens,” Perry, Abbott-who had Jessica Fertitta as cash bundler for Texans for Abbott, and Devon Anderson have made no arrests with conviction of a child sex slave trafficker ever. In fact the greatest child sex slave trafficker of American citizens in his casinos and internet “barely legal” cites is their greatest campaign contributor.
David Allen is currently being held in judicial bondage until after the election by Devon Anderson’s city attorney wannabe for Planned Parenthood. David and his whole family is being tortured by stress by malicious continuations of his false arrest for tress passing. Devon is acting again as always as a judicial criminal as a tool of Planned Parenthood and Rick Perry as well as for re-election (that’s not going to happen Devon) because David Allen has publically exposed Planned Parenthood, Cardinal Dinardo, Perry, Abbott and Anise Parker’s connection to turning a blind eye to child sex slave trafficking, the Southwest Inn and the Hideaway through Tilman Fertitta’s bogus Hundred Club.
Dude, you should be careful, I think the foil hat on your head is springing a leak. . . . .
Seriously, the only things missing from your convoluted conspiracy theories are the Queen of England and some KGB spies!