Commentary/Opinion by Don Hooper
While some lifelong conservatives, like me, have voted for Kim Ogg this fall, others may be hesitant because they are conservatives and doesn’t a good conservative always vote for the Republican candidate? Of course, that line of thought begs the question: What does a conservative prosecutor look like?
Before I begin, I would like to address the elephant in the room. I do not like the Anderson administration or their cronies and they do not care for me very much either. When I met my wife, she was a hardworking Harris County Assistant District Attorney. Over the last few years, I saw the Anderson cabal use a fake scandal to gain power. In doing so, they did everything they could to tarnish my wife’s professional reputation, including using Chip Lewis to file a baseless civil lawsuit. For many years, the cabal has used Murray Newman to speak ill about my family. Instead of sitting on my hands, I decided to do something about it and started my own website. That being said, I want to see the Harris County District Attorney’s office return to the people of Harris County and I proudly support Kim Ogg for District Attorney.
Some say that they would only support a conservative for any office; so, I would like to look at Devon Anderson’s record and ask the question: What does a conservative prosecutor look like?
In early 2013, Philadelphia physician Kermit Gosnell was convicted of three counts of murder in the deaths of three infants born alive. Shortly after that conviction, the news broke that Harris County authorities were investigating Douglas Karpen, a local doctor accused of performing late term abortions. Four former employees of Karpen accused him of delivering live babies during the third trimester and killing them by snipping their spinal cord or twisting their necks. On December 20, 2013, on Devon’s watch, a Harris County grand jury no billed Karpen. This no bill occurred as soon as Devon knew that she would have no primary opponent.
Much has already been written about our poor grand jury system in Harris County. Most of the judges use a key man system, which means that the judges select commissioners who choose the grand jurors. Using this process, rather than selecting the grand jurors at random from the jury pool, allows bias to enter the criminal justice system. New York judge Sol Wachtler was famously quoted in The Bonfire of the Vanities that “a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich if that is what [the prosecutor] wanted.”
In Texas, a prosecutor presents a case or investigation to a grand jury and the defense attorney is not permitted to enter the room. So, if a prosecutor, a hired persuader, presents a case to a pro-government, key man grand jury, what is the likely result?
Devon used the key man system when she was a judge. Devon and her husband continuously recycled certain grand jurors, such as Tricia Pollard.
Now we know that Denise Pratt, former judge of the 311th District Court, was operating a dysfunctional court. It is alleged that she backdated orders and dismissed hundreds of pending cases. If proven, these acts would be deemed criminal. Instead of being “one tough prosecutor” and vigorously prosecuting Pratt, Devon presented the case to a grand jury and used the grand jury as leverage to force Pratt’s resignation.
Meanwhile, the appearance of impropriety was grand. Devon and Pratt shared a political consultant, Allen Blakemore. If you are not familiar with Blakemore’s shenanigans, I ask that you listen to Michael Berry’s take on the man and his ethics. Pratt was represented by Blakemore buddy, Terry Yates. It is amazing that Terry Yates still associates with Blakemore. In 2010, Blakemore’s nasty tactics ruined Terry’s wife’s re-election campaign. Now, Leslie Brock Yates is a regular visiting judge down at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. Devon is just mimicking Chuck Rosenthal as Blakemore also served as Chuck’s political consultant.
Let’s talk about Devon’s most recent campaign press release issued through Allen Blakemore. Allen and Devon claim that Kim Ogg was late on her latest campaign finance report. That statement is a complete lie. A simple gander at the latest report shows that Kim’s report was mailed on the due date, which is permitted by the rules. If Devon would permit this sort of distortion in her campaign, what is she doing as the interim District Attorney?
In 2012, Mike Anderson used the Houston Police Officers’ Union to publicize his campaign for District Attorney. Anderson and the union used Pat Lykos’s “trace evidence policy” to label Lykos as soft on crime. The truth is that policy was in place for two years prior to the aired complaint. Prior to implementation of the policy, Lykos had gotten the buy in of law enforcement and the judiciary, which included Anderson. This is a great example of the trickery and distortion often used by Blakemore.
During that campaign, Anderson also criticized the DIVERT program, which was a program implemented by Lykos that allowed pre-trial diversion for first time driving while intoxicated offenders. Anderson proclaimed that program was illegal. After he took office, he retained the DIVERT program (giving it another name). Today, the DA’s office continues this pre-trial diversion program. In fact, Devon has implemented a pre-trial diversion program for drug offenders. So, has she implemented illegal programs?
Just this week, Devon announced that she granted pre-trial intervention to an HISD principal and another HISD administrator for failing to report sexual abuse of a child. It is interesting to note that the HISD administrator was represented by Billy Belk, one of the attorneys appointed by Susan Brown to “prosecute” my wife in front of the 185th grand jury.
Speaking of Susan Brown, has anyone ever learned why Susan Brown gave $2,925 to Anderson & Thomas, the former law firm of Devon Anderson and Brock Thomas, on December 29, 2010?
Back to the HPOU. Did you know that Devon is endorsed by the HPOU? It is odd to note that Devon does not discuss this endorsement. Why? Is she worried that citizens would draw the dots between her support of the police and the actions of the DA’s office? Does support from a police union make Devon conservative? If you wonder why the Houston Police are still in the crime lab business, look no further.
Now, Devon is up on television during this campaign. Her commercial focuses on her prosecution of a capital murder [on videotape]. While the Victor Trevino case is continuously reset, it is almost like she tried the capital murder [on videotape] to use in her campaign commercial. Is it conservative to use a defendant as fodder for a political campaign?
Shortly after Mike Anderson took office, he hired Ann Johnson, fresh off her campaign against Republican Sarah Davis for House District 134. Johnson was hired as the “human trafficking specialist” at an annual salary of $110,000. Was that a conservative move?
Belinda Hill gave up her bench to serve as the first assistant under Mike Anderson. A lot of folks thought this was a strange move. Why would a judge with broad authority resign to become an assistant district attorney? Once Mike’s illness was announced, it seemed obvious – Belinda would succeed Mike in office. The Houston Chronicle thought so. Surprisingly, Devon was appointed by Rick Perry. Recently, Devon said that Mike wanted her to take his place.
Chip Lewis has been a visible figure throughout the Anderson administration. He was involved with the 185th grand jury and even told Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack about his forthcoming subpoena. Following Devon’s appointment, he said this: “I understand that Judge Anderson and Judge Hill discussed this [Devon’s appointment] extensively. They both believed that this was in the best interest for Harris County and their families to move forward with this arrangement.” Meanwhile, he is representing Victor Trevino and seems to be getting a lot of favorable results for his clients with the Anderson administration.
Kim Ogg certainly has Republican minions running scared. I received word that a political consultant was looking to see if Kim ever represented a Muslim so that could be used as slime against Kim. Note to this consultant: you may want to first run Devon’s bar number through the Harris County District Clerk’s website before you decide to throw stones. This is the type of garbage that certain people resort to when they have nothing else. Thankfully, Kim Ogg is above that trash.
I first met Kim Ogg in 2009 at a fundraiser for my wife, then a Republican judicial candidate. I will never forget the conversation that I observed between Kim and Dodie Osteen – Kim was thanking Dodie for praying for Kim’s mother at Lakewood.
While some conservatives may have reservation about voting for a democrat, I am confident that Kim Ogg is not a partisan figure. The Ogg administration will be true justice for all Harris County citizens. Think of it this way – a vote for Kim Ogg is a vote against Allen Blakemore.
My advice is if you do not like the current DA, then don’t vote for her. However, please do not vote for the democrat. I don’t care what she says, she WILL be beholden to the party and WILL advance the party’s agenda. That is how democrats act. Just look at the democrat candidate’s endorsements (Parker, Garcia, Alvarado, et al – a who’s who of local liberals). Winning this office would signifcantly help the Battleground Texas goal of turning Texas blue.
Now what do you have to say after Devon used all the tactics listed here to give planned parenthood a free ride and attack the truth!!!??? Is that not blue enough for you????
Great. Hand power to the overall enemy just because you have a bone to pick with one lieutenant on your own team. Just great.
All armies have disciplined their own soldiers on the battlefield. Many, including ours, have even shot them. Robert, if you look at Devon Anderson’s list of endorsements and supporters you will find unions. These would be the very unions and the very people that she may have to prosecute for wrongdoing. I have worked for and supported Republicans all my adult life. I have been known to call out a bad actor or two. Just because your are a Republican does not give you a pass from right and wrong. Devon Anderson has had a long list of wrongs. I have written extensively about the corruption within the office and nothing has ever been refuted. I have also just skimmed the surface on the wrongdoing. This is an important office in Harris County. What happens in Harris County is watched throughout the state and the country. Republicans should lead by example but the Andersons are rooted in the corruption of the past Republican officeholders. It is time for a change and a very thorough house cleaning.
So is your implication that an Ogg administration would go full steam ahead against Karpen?
If so, it may diminish some of her support among the GLBT PAC, mayor Parker, Senators Ellis, Garcia & Whitmire, Reps Alvarado, Coleman, Dutton, Farrar, Miles, Thompson & Turner, and many other of the dems who are backing her, all of whom are described as “pro-choice” on the NARAL website.
And though she doesn’t make an issue of her sexual orientation like Mayor Parker, is there any question that she wouldn’t let it influence her decision making if elected?
I’m Tom Zakes and I approve this message
Tom, I think of it like this. Allen Blakemore is not in Kim’s Rolodex. The quicker we get rid of Devon the better we all sleep. Allen has demonstrated he will manipulate the office for political gain. Allen Blakemore has Republican candidates in primary races and that alone should make any Republican nervous, very nervous.
Parker didn’t make much of an issue of her orientation either until after she got elected. There’s always a chance that the democrat candidate for DA will do the same thing. In recent years, dems have ALWAYS run near the center and then made a sharp left turn after the election.
When it comes to the exoneration of Dr. Douglas Karpen and using the Court to repress shofar sounder (Hebrew whistle blower) David Allen, the Democrats and Republicans are completely bipartisan. Certainly Devon Anderson should not continue as HCDA, be a judge, or lawyer because of the exoneration and repression. Anderson’s simply not being elected does not serve justice. She should be indicted by a Harris County Key Man Grand Jury and if convicted disbarred. Voting for another highly suspect “Democrat,” or a corrupt “Republican” like Ken Paxton who concurs with Mayor Parker and Planned Parenthood on the exoneration of Karpen orchestrated by G. Abbott for Rick Perry and David Allen’s repression through judicial bondage and torture for shofar sounding is far worse. This may even cause Anderson to be elected. Rick Perry, Greg Abbott, and Annise Parker using Devon Anderson all collaborated with Cecil Richards, a Nancy Pelosi political hack for the Bush/Walker/Ford/Rockefeller/Bill and Melinda Gates’ CDC/Planned Parenthood to monopolize surgical abortion in Texas through United Surgical Partners’ government lobbyist Mila Perry Jones’ HB2 outpatient mandate that all doctors in the future performing abortions in their offices must be franchised as out patient as United Surgical Partners like Dr. Karpen and his Arron Women’s outpatient surgical clinic.
I love it, next thing you know Ray Hunt is going to be saying Kim Ogg is going to putting crooked cops in jail just like Pat Lykos!
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Former-HPD-officer-sentenced-to-20-years-for-2186412.php
Just look at this list of endorsements and try to convince anyone that the democrat candidate won’t be partisan.
http://kim-ogg.com/kims-endorsements/
Have you seen Devon’s endorsements? Because if you have and are not frightened beyond belief, you are Devon Anderson.
Yes, I have looked at her endorsements: HPOA, C Club, Conservative Republicans of Harris County, Conservative Republicans of Texas, Harris County Deputies Organization, Houstion Retired Police Officers Association, Texas Right to Life PAC, et al. None of these frighten me. I am not Devon Anderson, and you know that, as you checked my LinkedIn profile. I don’t know why you would even make such a ridiculous assertion. I’m just a regular guy – a concerned citizen. I’m not in any inner circles or any of that kind of nonsense. I don’t know Devon Anderson personally, and I have never met her. Unlike you, I don’t have any personal axes to grind. I’m concerned about the democrats gaining control of Harris County. Now, that frightens me beyond belief.
Don, I’m beginning to wonder if you’re really a conservative. So you’re OK throwing in with the likes of Parker, Alvarado, Garcia, Ellis, Whitmire, et al?
Warren, it was a trick question, sorry. Devon’s endorsements are hidden on her website. How did you know where to find them? Warren she hides them because she is only endorsed by police unions. Did i mention just unions. As, a longtime conservative I am not a big fan of unions. This is real true of police unions who argue to keep bad police in place and more money for less work. This is a real dangerous position for the citizens of Harris County. This is of course topped off by the fact the DA is suppose to be impartial and the check and balance of the police. Warren I am convinced you can learn something here about conservatism and law enforcement. Police unions bad, very bad for the public good. They do excel at corruption, everyone has to be good for something. Still curious how you found her endorsements?
Don, it was very easy. I typed in “devon anderson endorsements” and the following link (among others) came up:
http://www.andersonda.com/endorsements/
Ms. Anderson’s endorsements scare me a lot less than her opponent’s endorsements. Plus, DA Anderson has some indirect endorsements, such as Paul Bettencourt, who advocates voting straight Republican. I guess that you don’t like him, either. I will grant you that I’m not a big fan of unions, either, but, in this case, I will take them over Parker, Ellis, Alvarado, Garcia, Coleman, Whitmire, et al. Endorsements typically don’t influence me in a positive way (i.e., an endorsement is more likely to drive me away from a candidate).
You think that a democrat controlled DA’s office would be corruption free? C’mon, Don, you have to be smarter than that. I have no proof of this, but I sincerely believe that Battleground Texas is involved with the democrat candidate’s campaign. If BT is not, it will surely love it if the democrat is elected. Another domino will have fallen.
Your right that is how you find it! I have no doubt that Battle Ground Texas is busy doing whatever they do. I know both candidates and I do not have to worry about Kim Ogg’s moral judgement. Devon has certainly proven that she is unfit to lead. I did not write about the prosecutor arrested for child endangerment, the rehires by Devon convicted of an assortment of crimes, the prosecutor who broke a beer bottle and threatened another in a bar fight. Devon promised she would take it back to the days of Chuck Rosenthal and did. The one campaign promise we could all ill afford. I just know to much of the bad actors running the office and we need a a moral change.
I’m not confident at all that morals will improve under democrat leadership. Again, we’ll agree to disagree.
Bottom line for me is that I do not trust any candidate with a D by his/her name.
Warren- Respect!
Full of it. Devon fired the prosecutors you mentioned, and as for the broken bottle, it wasn’t a threat in a bar fight… Although he was still fired for his unseemly behavior. So Devon is responsible for every individual’s wrong-doing, even when she lets them go afterwards?
I was pointing out to Warren that I did not mention it in my article.
However, now that you brought it up you said nothing about the rehires convicted of crimes represented by Chip Lewis.
My point is that if it would have happened under Lykos Murray Newman would have called every reporter in town.
I do think the rehires would make a good story but it is a little too Newmanesqe. What do you think?