“Update”
It has come to the attention of the author and owner of this blog, Don Hooper, that a local news blog outlet has inaccurately identified the owner as Rachel Hooper. This has never been true and this blog is owned and operated solely by Don Hooper.
The day had begun like any other day when Paul Bettencourt called and asked me if I could attend a court hearing in Judge Hoyt’s court. Paul and the leadership of the HCRP wanted someone who was not known to people in the District Attorney’s Office to monitor the contempt hearing.
Bettencourt, Jeff Yates, and George Hammerlein drove me to the Federal Courthouse. When I arrived, Scott Durfee, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office General Counsel was testifying. The hearing had already begun and Judge Hoyt was questioning Mr. Durfee about the 2,500 emails that had been destroyed by Chuck Rosenthal and subpoenaed by the court. Mr. Durfee told Judge Hoyt that he had informed the District Attorney that his emails were under subpoena and a court order. Mr. Durfee also informed the Judge that he was aware the emails had been destroyed. This all had happened within minutes of me arriving in the courtroom. My curiosity was peaked on how Rosenthal was going to explain this and then understood why I was asked to attend the hearing.
When DA Rosenthal took the stand, he was informed by Judge Hoyt of the testimony of his General Counsel as to the destruction of the emails. This was a contempt hearing and Rosenthal could have been jailed. DA Rosenthal preceded to tell the Judge his substance abuse of alcohol and prescription medication had clouded his judgment. I am paraphrasing here but his explanation was quite clear.
I really didn’t wait around because there was no point. It was clear what needed to happen and Rosenthal’s fate with the court was a very minor issue. I walked out of the courthouse and Paul, Jeff, and George were waiting. They asked me what had happened and I told them I would gather my thoughts on the way to lunch. My first comment was that under no circumstance could Chuck Rosenthal be the District Attorney and needed to be removed before the sunset. I relayed the events and testimony in court and all agreed. Paul and Jeff called Jared Woodfill and they drove me back to my office. It was my understanding that Paul and Jared went to meet Rosenthal and asked him to resign, which he did later that day or early evening. At this point, I did not know Rachel Palmer.
Four years ago, the biggest thing in my life was meeting my wife, Rachel. I was certainly glad that the District Attorney’s Office seemed to be on the right path with Pat Lykos; however, that was not my first and foremost concern at the time. I care about the District Attorney’s Office for two reasons: (1) Rachel and (2) my desire for true and honest justice in Harris County.
Mike Anderson PR consultant
For a multitude of reasons, Lykos had a number of enemies when she took office in 2009. Lykos made a promise to voters that she would get rid of individuals from within the office who did not hold justice as a top priority. She fired a handful of prosecutors, including Murray Newman, because it was clear that they would work against her administration and justice from day one. Unfortunately, a number of other prosecutors remained and they spent every waking moment working against the Lykos administration. Some did this with their anonymous comments, spewing their hatred and unhappiness in unfiltered posts. Others tainted younger prosecutors against the administration with lie after lie. Some people, more overtly, contacted news outlets, namely Ted Oberg, to provide false stories and spin.
Murray has recently lamented that political campaigns are tough on individuals and families. That is especially true in Harris County for one reason: Murray Newman. Four years ago, Murray brought courthouse politics to the lowest level of humanity. He made the decision to use coercion and vulgarity to intimidate others. Most people remember this type of behavior from junior high school. From day one, Murray made his hatred for Lykos personal, even including untrue attacks on the family members of Harris County District Attorney’s Office staff. Murray and his followers have demonstrated time and time again that they will do and say anything to win.
This is a very dangerous situation for two reasons. First, there are no boundaries. Second, leadership sets the tone. Anderson, Murray, and their followers have demonstrated that it is okay to illegally use the criminal justice process to defeat a political foe. So, the question becomes, what will they do in a courtroom?
Assistant District Attorney positions should not be political; however, the behavior of people like Murray has done just that. The people tasked with justice in our county should not be involved in county politics. The job is truly hard enough without adding that burden.
Lloyd Oliver spent less than a family’s monthly electric bill on his campaign and received 47 percent of the vote. The reason is that Anderson did nothing to quash the belief that he illegally used a grand jury for a political purpose. From the beginning, Anderson lied about his relationship with Patricia Pollard, the foreman and leader of the illegal grand jury. In his initial interview with David Jennings, Anderson said that Pollard was on two of his grand juries and dismissed the inquiry stating that he really didn’t know Pollard. Now, we know that Pollard was appointed foreman on three of Anderson’s grand juries before farming her out to Susan Brown. This is really Bush league politics turned into criminal activity. This election result is clearly not a mandate for Anderson.
Anderson and Pollard whispering
So, now we know that our District Attorney – Elect is corrupt. His participation in the 185th grand jury smear job proves that. The question for good citizens is who will Anderson bring back to the District Attorney’s Office? Will Ted Oberg be his new Public Information Officer or remain in that capacity at Channel 13?
Murray revels in Robert Talton’s loss to Vince Ryan simply because he thinks that precludes a career opportunity for Rachel. Take a second and think about that for a minute. This man who does not even know my wife – never even had a conversation with her – wants a good man to lose public office because he may offer Rachel a job? That is pretty sick.
Akin to this is the fact that my ex-wife, with no connections to the courthouse, has donated money to Mike Anderson’s campaign. When Rachel ran for judge in 2010, my ex-wife took my youngest son to the voting booth with her to show that she was voting against Rachel. Keep in mind that this is a woman who I have been divorced from for over ten years. Karen Hooper is an awful human being, a really poor parent, and the subject of numerous CPS and criminal investigations. So, of course she fits in perfectly with the Andersons, Browns, Newmans, and the like. I have learned so much over the last four years – most of which I wish that I did not know.
It shocked me that the people who were victimized by the Andersons (and the infamous Anderson career ending emails), were the same people standing next to Anderson against Lykos. It must be some sort of Stockholm syndrome. The truth is that all that Rachel (and Jim Leitner, Don McWilliams, Carl Hobbs, Steve Morris, Roger Bridgwater, Leon Wilson, Danny Dexter) has endured during these last four years is undeserved criticism because of their desire to have justice as a priority at the courthouse.
I think it is time to share with you an anonymous email that was sent to my wife on Monday, November 9, 2009. As you may remember, Rachel filed for Court Thirteen on September 28, 2009. Denise Bradley filed a month later. When Anderson left the bench and arranged for Denise to run for his bench, Don Smyth filed to run against Rachel at the last second on the last day before filing closed.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Norma Rae
Date: Monday, November 9, 2009
Subject: Denise Bradley
To: rachel@palmerforjudge.comRachel,
I am an ADA at the office. I don’t really understand all of the contempt for the Lykos administration. Sure things aren’t perfect but that is the sacrifice you make when you decide to serve the public. Anyway, I especially don’t understand all of the contempt people have for you. I don’t know you well, but the few times I’ve had contact with you, you were always friendly and professional. This is why I thought you deserved to know about the horrible things that are being said about you behind your back. It isn’t right. I am a firm believer that women in the workplace should look out for each other. This is why I am so angry at Denise Bradley and the rumors she is spreading. Her petty attacks against you set all of us woman back, perpetuating misconceptions about woman in the workplace. I understand being competitive, but she had crossed the line. She actively campaigns during work hours which I know she is not supposed to do. She has encouraged people to go online and say horrible things about you. She had spread rumors that are ridiculous and show her desperation. She has said that you have spent thousands of dollars on plastic surgery, that you have slept around with men at the office, and the most ridiculous, that you and Judge Lykos were former lovers. She may think these rumors are funny but a lot of people at the office don’t. I know Judge Lykos wouldn’t find these things funny but people in the office are afraid to speak up out of fear of retribution. Denise has a lot of friends in high places. I wish I had the courage to go to Judge Lykos and tell her about the awful ways Denise is representing our office and women in the workplace, but I just don’t. I’m even afraid about sending this message. I just wanted to let you know that you need to watch your back and know that your opponent isn’t fighting fair. I respect that you have not sunk to Denise’s level. You represent professional women well. I will be praying and voting for you. God bless.
A strong supporter
If we all stand against the tactics of people like Murray, we may not change the world but we will change the courthouse. Rachel has always made the comment of which I now know to be true – the courthouse works when people of integrity participate in the process and it fails when people with no integrity are in positions of power. Anderson is doomed for failure and the 126,000 voters who voted above the straight party ticket will grow when Anderson’s deeds and the deeds of others become known.
