Thanks to the intrepid reporters at the Albany Herald, former Albany DA Ken Hodges is “99% sure” he’ll run for Attorney General here in Georgia. Oh joy. I say this because Ken Hodges currently is under a lawsuit regarding the infamous “Phoebe Factoids” case. Mr. Hodges is currently implicated in a lawsuit by Mr. Charles Rehberg.
Mr. Rehberg alleges that Mr. Hodges targeted him for his part in the infamous “Phoebe Factoid” faxes that were sent out in 2003. In all honesty, this is unique in that most District Attorneys operate under a sort of immunity while in office except for specific things. One of those things is professional misconduct. Judge Louis Sands allowed it to continue.
For those who don’t know the allegations against Mr. Hodges, let me lay them out for you. In 2003, a set of anonymous faxes were made to businesses all over town called the “Phoebe Factoids”. These alleged various abuses by Phoebe Putney Hospital. Mr. Hodges allegedly used the power of his office to subpoena the BellSouth phone records, using specifically a 2003 grand jury, to uncover the originator of the factoids.
Now, using a grand jury to subpoena phone records is nothing new. But what’s really original is what Mr. Hodges allegedly did with those records. He is alleged to have handed them over to Phoebe. As Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” character would say, “isn’t that special?” And, say they say on commercials, “but wait, there’s more.”
Mr. Rehberg was then charged with 6 counts of harassing phone calls, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of burglary. Of course, since the supposed “harassing phone calls” were to businesses and the office of Congressman Sanford Bishop (who was supposedly “surprised” to find he was a victim) which can’t really receive harassing phone calls, and the home he was alleged to have broken into was a home he’s never been to (it was also the site of the alleged aggravated assault), all charges were dropped.
Now, Mr. Rehberg wants to clear his name. Ken Hodges, on the other hand, wants to move onto bigger and better things…like being able to do the same things at the state level? I mean, if he can’t accept Mr. Rehberg’s right to free speech here in the Dougherty County Judicial Circuit, then what will he do with the much larger state budget? Let’s hope we don’t find out.
“Are you serious? Is that all you got? Handing over some phone records? Get a life dude. There’s far worse that goes on.”
I agree. Far worse is bringing charges you know are bogus against people you know are innocent. How is Ken Hodges different from Mike Nifong other than being born with a silver spoon in his mouth?
Stay tuned…..in the very near future I will let some poop be known about Ken Hodges…..his ambitions and agenda…..
In the mean time…..think about JFK Jr…..
Regards,
Rude: Shoot us an email on our Contact Us page if you have any information. Otherwise, I’d request you not drop teasers here. They don’t accomplish anything.
Just putting all in standby mode….timing is crucial….be patient, sit back and enjoy!
Regards,
Rude
Ken Hodges is commingling his campaign with his livelihood at Baudino Law Group. Call him there and ask him for yourself!
1201 Peachtree St NE # 2020 Atlanta, GA 30361-6330 – (404) 685-8199
Allegation; Ken Hodges was knowingly involved with a married woman with children in some sort of an affair…..is this the Attorney General that Georgia wants and needs?
http://www.aboutforsyth.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=28671&highlight=&sid=25ff1efe03d2e5b93b7dd4e2e33626cb
Rude: That’s not the kind of thing we run here. The only reason the link isn’t pulled down is simply because as that appears to be part of a divorce proceeding, it should be public record anyways. But infidelity isn’t something that I’ve ever felt should be part of the political process…by either side. That’s between them, their spouses, and God…no one else.
Remove it…..if you do not approve……but just one persons opinion……how do the voters feel?
The voters probably don’t share my feelings. And like I said, I’m leaving this one up, though this is the last one that will be left. Just a heads up is all.
6 of one or a half dozen of the other to me…..you don’t have to do me any favors, because I am certainly not looking for any…..just sharing what I know…..
Tom, normally I think tittle tattle about personal lives should have no bearing in the news unless it is both verifiable AND has a bearing on the person’s competence or ability to perform their job honestly (Don Buie’s situation is a great example of where character and competence is vital to the story; The smokescreen issues raised by the Jolivette cheerleaders are examples of irrelevant info distracting from a story).
I analogize the Hodges issue to the Buie situation. Hodges has been so sanctimonious and so demagogic on so many issues, the fact that there is material in the public record related to his affair with a married woman seems directly relavant to his present campaign for the highest law-enforcement office in the state. If this office does not demand high character, I am not certain any state office would.
I note further that I was unaware of these allegations until the link to these court filings was posted here. I am certain many voters were as ignorant of this situation as I was. I think if this discussion can be kept on an adult plane (unlike many of the juvenile Jolivette threads perpetrated by one person under different aliases) this item NEEDS to be aired out.
I have long thought that Ken Hodges was a cross between Eliot Spitzer and Mike Nifong. Now we hear that those comparisons might be apt not merely on the professional level but also personal and the comparison is closer than even I thought. Given the authority of the position, Hodges as Attorney General is simply too great a threat to honesty and fair government. I am hopeful you will follow this candidate in detail, because if this blog and others do not, we can be certain the traditional media won’t.
Another reason that Hodges should not be AG. Now on film:
http://www.donoharmdoc.com/
Ken Hodges’ P.R. flak is crowing in The Daily Report that a $150 contribution from his close friend Thurbert Baker is tantamount to a political endorsement from Baker. In reality, a $150 contribution from a close friend does NOT say endorsement, the small size perhaps implies something else entirely. Further, Hodges law firm, the Baudino Law Group, contributed $12,200 to Thurbert Baker…yet Baker only contributes $150 to Hodges!!! Thurbert and the A.G.’s office is currently having to defend Ken Hodges in a federal prosecutorial misconduct lawsuit, which Hodges currently has appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (Rehberg v. Paulk, Hodges, et.al.) Perhaps Thurbert is smart enought to steer clear of Hodges’ mess.
While there is technically an overlap in the definitions of contribution and endorsement, Ken is certainly taking artistic license with the significance of a $150 contribution.
Someone ought to put this claim of support to the test and directly question Thurbert Baker. The first question could be his opinion of the propriety of a public office being used to obtain protected information, to then be handed over to private parties – even if the public office is later reimbursed for any costs.
Thurbert could explain the sanctity of the judicial process and why subpoenas should not be abused.
Then Thurbert could be asked if he thought public officials should be above the law.
Then I would love to hear his opinion regarding the harm that individuals suffer when they are falsely accused of a felony simply for the purpose of smearing their reputation with a “criminal record of arrest”.
Thurbert could be asked if prosecutors should maintain the appearance of propriety in their dealings. For example, should a prosecutor refuse to let his office participate in an investigation of critics of his spouse’s employer?
THEN, he can be asked whether he endorses Ken Hodges or not “on the record”.
Cartman, you are so right. Also, it is actually ILLEGAL under Georgia law for a prosecutor to take ANY money for ANY reason involving ANY particular investigation. Hodges and his office broke the law when they took Phoebe money in the Factoid investigation, even if they call it “expense reimbursement”. His lead investigator has testified under oath that they would not have even conducted the investigation if Phoebe had not been willing to pay for it. Hodges also violated the oath of his office, in at least two ways. First showing favor in an investigation. Second, even after he “recused” himself from the prosecution, he did not come forth with the information that no crime had occured or been reported to have occurred. He knowingly allowed a false prosecution to take place within his own jurisdiction. This is a violation of his oath, and an unconscionable act for any officer of the court. Hodges should be disbarred, just like Nifong in North Carolina.
I just read the stuff at the link Rude posted recently. I think the decision to leave the link is the right one. This is not about two private citizens, this is about two elected public servants allegedly having an affair on the public dime. How people conduct their personal lives has to in some ways cross over into their public or business lives. Morals are indivisible, in my opinion. When you run for public office today, you are fair game. I have to say that personally, I am a little surprised he would have an affair with a woman.
You all don’t know the half of this story. Here is my latest piece.
http://theeprovocateur.blogspot.com/2009/07/inside-story-of-do-no-harm.html
.-= Mike Volpe´s last blog ..The Inside Story of Do No Harm =-.
Mike,
Actually, you don’t have anything there that we didn’t already know. I probably have the same source regarding Hodges campaign asking for the cease and desist. However, there’s an angle there that I’m currently investigating that will shed some light onto the “why” of that.
The web of support for Hodges is outlined here, with more coming in the following weeks.
Your information here is the most accurate and detailed on the web. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to speak.
.-= Mike Volpe´s last blog ..Morning Market Report =-.
Mike: I look forward to it
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