Quick! Someone call Waller County DA Elton Mathis and explain to him the meaning of the word, “Independent.” Then ask him to inform Sheriff Glenn Smith. Then: Start over! The latest screams Conflict of Interest. Or would had the reporter done any kind of checking. Really. Any kind at all.
Normally we don’t call out really bad reporting, but the Sandra Bland case is too important leave unaddressed. Sadly, this post stars Houston’s KPRC anchor, Keith Garvin who interviewed attorney Paul Looney about Waller County’s already problematic Sheriff, Glenn Smith.
Sheriff Smith supposedly called for an independent investigation into the death of Sandra Bland, but hired Looney & Conrad, the firm in which Waller County Judge Trey Duhon is officially, “Of Counsel.” (This is on top of Elton’s calling for an Independent investigation and the Chronicle’s report on that involving Lewis M. White and Darrell W. Jordan two other attorneys.)
No seriously. I am not making this up. Back to the problematic Sheriff and his choice pick. We’ll let a competent reporter ask Judge “I run the county” Duhon why he didn’t advise Sheriff Smith he was “Of Counsel” to Looney & Conrad and how employing the firm would be a clear, Conflict of Interest.
Also, is the firm getting paid for this investigation? If so, how much? Please note in Looney & Conrad’s June 1, 2015, announcement of bringing Judge Duhon in as “Of Counsel” an announcement includes the fact that:
Looney & Conrad are not certified in any area of practice by the State of Texas.
Click below for the televised interview. This rather significant fact was completely missing from Keith Garvin’s report.
One picture is worth a thousand words
Note the change in the Facebook Cover photo of Looney and Conrad – Clues, anyone?
Yes, I did call the station to inform them of their miss. Am waiting to hear back.
Just kidding! No breaths are being held.
But seriously, folks. Step up your game.
Very interesting read about the “transparency” in Waller County. It seems like Waller County is more oblique than transparent these days and it was a campaign battle cry to bring “Transparency” to Waller County”. Wondering where is that Transparency now?
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Muck raker. Seems they’d be “looney: to hire the guy. Ba-dum-cha.
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Been waiting all week for some one to make the joke.
You never disappoint!
🙂
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