Jackson Free Press

We received this letter today from attorney general candidate Jim Hood, the Democrat, accusing his challenger Scott Newton of intentionally lying about Hood's record. It is reprinted verbatim:

Dear Members of the Media: In 33 days Mississippians will go to the polls to elect those who will serve them for the next four years. From TV, radio, and editorial pages, voters are being inundated with information about the candidates. Voters understand that beyond all the competing claims candidates make about leadership and integrity, the only reliable measure is found in candidates' past accomplishments, in their record of public service.

I am writing you today because Scott Newton, my opponent in the race for attorney general, has knowingly misstated my record in a desperate attempt to mislead the voters and the media. Please consider:
• In the Sept. 21 edition of the Meridian Star, Terry R. Cassreino details how Mr. Newton took comments from a column and falsely attributed them to me in order to portray me as an enemy of civil justice reform. The words Mr. Newton used were not my words, and the subject had nothing to do with civil justice reform. Anyone seeing the original column would know this. When questioned by Mr. Cassreino, my opponent's only defense was, "We don't think we took it out of context." No other explanation was offered. To this day Mr. Newton has yet to admit that he did anything wrong or unethical.

• On Sept. 27, the Associated Press detailed Newton's admission that he knowingly misrepresented my trial record as a prosecutor, alleging that Hood's DA office had only tried 16 cases and that Hood lied by stating that he had personally tried approximately 100 trials. In response to the attack, court reporters of the Third Circuit Court District compiled a list of all jury trials in which Jim Hood served as lead prosecutor. Court records indicate that Jim Hood has personally tried 101 criminal jury trials as district attorney. Hood's office had tried over two-hundred cases during the same period. The Associated Press confirmed that Newton issued the false press release despite warnings from the state Administrative Office of the Courts that the information he was using was woefully incomplete, and did not accurately reflect Hood's courtroom experience. He knowingly used this false information in speeches, on radio shows, and in interviews for over three weeks before finally admitting that he knew the information was false. My opponent continues to dodge responsibility for this action.

In response to his false attack against my trial experience, I compiled a list of 101 jury trials that I prosecuted. I challenged Mr. Newton to do the same. He has refused to produce his record. Instead, his response was that his trial experience as a prosecutor was "an irrelevant point." I vehemently disagree. Experience as a prosecutor is not only relevant it is essential. Without it, you have nothing to draw upon to be a successful attorney general.

Scott Newton himself admitted that he lied about my record—and he keeps doing it. If he behaves in the courtroom the way he's behaving on the campaign trail, he'd end up in jail himself. This continued dishonesty by Scott Newton demonstrates that he lacks the character to hold the office of Attorney General.

I hope you will consider these misrepresentations the next time Mr. Newton issues a news release or makes a statement regarding my record, and I request an opportunity to respond prior to any publication

Sincerely,
Jim Hood

Previous Comments

ID

136171

Comment

Republican Newton responds to Hood: http://www.sitemason.com/newspub/l7JDoc?id=12953

Author

ladd

Date

2003-10-16T15:29:12-06:00

ID

136172

Comment

That's a pretty lame response. Given Newton's claims of his own experience, he should have known the numbers he was initially given were inaccurate even if the person who gave them to him didn't indicate they were imcomplete.

Author

Nia

Date

2003-10-16T16:06:37-06:00