Sen. John Huppenthal (R., Chandler, Arizona) has been arrested and charged with stealing a campaign sign. Notably, Huppenthal has invoked legislative privileges to get the trial delayed.
Huppenthal argued that any trial on the misdemeanor charges is barred by the Arizona Constitution provision that protects lawmakers from arrest during the session.
He is accused of cutting down the sign of a 78-year-old Democratic activist Ruth Levin and then struggling with her when she tried to get it back. While he sped away in his car, he insists that the landlord gave him permission to cut it down.
He blames democrats “a continuation of the sadistic and vindictive smear campaign.”
His claim of legislative immunity should be interesting. Courts have historically limited such privilege claims, particularly in cases of breaches of the peace.
It brings new meaning to his campaign slogan: “Huppenthal: Delivering the Change We Need.”
For the story, click here.
While each state has its own rules of evidence, many states model their rules on the Federal Rules of Evidence, which themselves relate closely to the common-law mode of examination. ,
Muslim With Ties to Hamas to Address Inaugural Prayer Service
Reuters 1/18/09
A Muslim religious leader with ties to the terrorist group Hamas is scheduled to address President Barack Obama’s inaugural prayer service on Wednesday.
Given the recent hostilities in Israel surrounding Hamas, irrespective of a just-announced ceasefire, one has to wonder how much attention this matter will get from Obama-loving media which are also largely pro-Palestinian.
Although Politico is getting credit for breaking this story, the American Thinker appears to have been the first to unveil the truth behind Ingrid Mattson Saturday.
Let’s get the entire quote regarding Underwood:
http://www.ahwatukee.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ahwatukee&id=5381
“But the police report is less clear, stating that the complex’s policy is that they do not deny any political party from placing signs up for Election Day.
In the report, assistant manager Lisa Underwood told police she remembered the man who asked to remove the sign, but told him that the apartment complex policy is to allow all signs and that they only ask that the signs be placed in an orderly fashion and removed after the election.
But the report does quote Underwood telling Huppenthal, “I don’t care what you do.””
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Sounds to me like he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. And she finally said “I don’t care what you do”.
If that is the case, I hope she does testify. Cause he just lost.
Hey, “mimi” get a clue!
AND OF COURSE;;;; THE REST OF THE STORY!
Huppenthal said he received permission from the assistant manager of the apartment complex before he cut down the sign.
“I went in and asked if I had permission to remove the sign and the answer was ‘Yes,’” Huppenthal said. “I wasn’t going to remove the sign without her permission.”
In the report, assistant manager Lisa Underwood told police she remembered the man who asked to remove the sign. The report quotes Underwood telling Huppenthal, “I don’t care what you do.”
Arizona law protects political signs from theft, but property owners can prohibit signs or take down the ones they don’t want or like.
“I don’t understand it,” said Huppenthal who thinks the problem is all because the Democrats are still bitter he wasn’t defeated.
ONCE AGAIN MR. TURLEY FAILS TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE.
Link to first story in my above comment is here:
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/134141
Local newspaper (dated 1-15-09) says ” A Chandler lawmaker wants to halt court proceedings in his theft case until the end of the legislative session.
State Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, is basing his request on a provision of the Arizona Constitution that grants lawmakers “privilege from arrest and any civil process during the legislative session,” a motion filed Tuesday in Chandler’s San Marcos Justice Court said.”
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So, apparently case is still active.
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Second, I think it’s absurd he wrestled with a 78 year old woman.
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Third, according to this source, nobody will vouch to his claim that the office agreed to his removing the sign.
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2008/11/chandler_police_seeking_charge.php
“A problem for Huppenthal is that the actual owner of Country Brook Apartments in Chandler wasn’t on site the day Huppenthal and the Democratic Party volunteer got into it over the sign.
A woman named “Lynn” who answered the phone today at Country Brook says nobody in the office “knows anything going on” about the sign flap. As far as she knows, the apartment complex’s office workers didn’t have authorization to speak on behalf of the property owner, either to authorize signs getting put up or taken down”
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Big Fail for Hup.
The excerpted quotes come from: eastvalleytribune.com/story/134141
{Quote: “The Scottsdale City prosecutor, which took over the case after Chandler declared a conflict of interest, disagrees with the motion and has filed a response with the court.
Caron Close, Scottsdale city prosecutor, said Huppenthal will not be arrested.
She said he also “breached the peace,” which is one of the exceptions in the Constitutional provision.
The provision reads: “Members of the legislature shall be privileged from arrest in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, and they shall not be subject to any civil process during the session of the legislature. . .” End Quote}
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As a Republican, I want the legal system to proceed immediately against Republican Sen. John Huppenthal so he can have a chance at vindication through a legal acquittal.
AND OF COURSE;;;; THE REST OF THE STORY!
Huppenthal said he received permission from the assistant manager of the apartment complex before he cut down the sign.
“I went in and asked if I had permission to remove the sign and the answer was ‘Yes,'” Huppenthal said. “I wasn’t going to remove the sign without her permission.”
In the report, assistant manager Lisa Underwood told police she remembered the man who asked to remove the sign. The report quotes Underwood telling Huppenthal, “I don’t care what you do.”
Arizona law protects political signs from theft, but property owners can prohibit signs or take down the ones they don’t want or like.
“I don’t understand it,” said Huppenthal who thinks the problem is all because the Democrats are still bitter he wasn’t defeated.
ONCE AGAIN MR. TURLEY FAILS TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE.