The following is a real-time transcript taken as closed captioning during the oral argument proceedings, and as such, may contain errors. This service is provided solely for the purpose of assisting those with disabilities and should be used for no other purpose. These are not legal documents, and may not be used as legal authority. This transcript is not an official document of the Florida Supreme Court.
Inquiry Concerning a Judge: Brandt C. Downey III
SC05-2228
ALL RISE.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE.
THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA
IS NOW IN SESSION.
ALL WHO HAVE CAUSE TO PLEA,
DRAW NEAR, GIVE ATTENTION,
AND YOU SHALL BE HEARD.
GOD SAVE THESE UNITED STATES,
THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA
AND THIS HONORABLE COURT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT.
PLEASE BE SEATED.
>> GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS AND
WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA
SUPREME COURT IN THE FINAL
MORNING OF ARGUMENT FOR
SEPTEMBER, FRIDAY 22ND.
THE FIRST MATTER THAT WE
MUST ADDRESS IS THE MATTER
CONCERNING JUDGE BRANDT
DOWNEY.
JUDGE DOWNEY, WOULD YOU
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JUDGE DOWNEY THE PROCEEDING
THAT IS BEFORE US TODAY
REMINDS US ALL OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING OF
THE DIGNITY APPROPRIATE
THROUGH JUDICIAL OFFICE AND
THE DUTY OF EACH JUDICIAL
OFFICER TO ACT IN A MANNER
CONSISTENT WITH THE
INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE
JUDICIAL BRANCH.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO
CIVILIZED SOCIETY IN THIS
COUNTRY THAN THE THREAT OF
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT
HOLDS OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
TOGETHER AND HOLDS OUR
SOCIETY TOGETHER.
IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR THOSE
FOR THE EFFECTIVE
FUNCTIONING OF OUR JUSTICE
SYSTEM THAT ALL OFFICERS
OF -- ABSTAIN FROM
INAPPROPRIATE, DISRESPECTFUL
BEHAVIOR WHICH TENDS TO
REFLECT NEGATIVELY ON THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM AND ON EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF US.
THE FAILURE OF A SINGLE
JUDGE TO MAINTAIN THE
DIGNITY AND THE QUORUM
THAT'S COMMENCERATE WITH OUR
JUDICIAL OFFICE UNMINES THE
INTEGRITY OF EVERY JUDGE.
NONE OF US ARE PERFECT AND
WE ALL HAVE HUMAN
FRAILITIES.
BUT THE CONDUCT THAT BRINGS
YOU HERE TODAY IS TRULY
SHOCKING.
WHEN YOU ARE USING THE
PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE OF
FLORIDA.
THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU
ARISE FROM AND RELATE TO
YOUR ADMITTED INAPPROPRIATE
USE OF COURT EQUIPMENT.
OF COURT TECHNOLOGY FOR
VIEWING MATTERS OF A
PORNOGRAPHIC MATTER ON THE
PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
ON MAY 26th, 2006, A
STIPULATION BETWEEN YOU AND
THE INVESTIGATIVE PANEL OF
THE FLORIDA JUDICIAL
QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION
WAS PRESENTED TO US PURSUANT
TO ARTICLE V SECTION 12 OF
THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION AND
THE RULES OF THE JUDICIAL
QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION.
IN THAT STIPULATION, YOU
ADMITTED THE CHARGES FILED
AND THE INAPPROPRIATE OF THE
CONDUCT AND THE IMPRO PRYITY
OF THE EVERYTHING THAT WAS
INCLUDED WITHIN THE CHARGES
RELATING TO YOUR HABITIAL
VIEWING OF PORNOGRAPHY FROM
YOUR COURTHOUSE COMPUTER.
THOSE INCLUDED BEGINNING IN
OR ABOUT THE YEAR OF 2002
AND CONTINUING FOR A
THREE-YEAR PERIOD THROUGH
2005 YOU ENGAGED IN THE
PRACTICE OF VIEWING
INAPPROPRIATE INTERNET WEB
SITES FROM THE COMPUTER IN
YOUR CHAMBERS.
YOUR PRACTICE OF VIEWING
THIS MATERIAL FROM YOUR
COMPUTER RESULTED IN FREE
KPWEPBT COMPUTER VIRUSES
INFECTING THE COMPUTER
SYSTEM.
THE COURTHOUSE ANTI-VIRUS
SOFTWARE QUARANTINED THE
VIRUSES ON YOUR COMPUTER
WHICH IN TURN REQUIRED
REMOVAL BY TECHNOLOGY STAFF
MEMBERS EITHER FROM A REMOTE
LOCATION OR IN PERSON BY
COMING TO YOUR OFFICE TO
REMOVE THOSE VIRUSES.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT
YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SO
EMBARRASSED YOU WOULD HAVE
NEVER DONE IT AGAIN.
AS A RESULT, ON AT LEAST TWO
OCCASIONS COURTHOUSE
PERSONNEL WERE UNWITTINGLY
EXPOSED TO IMAGES WHEN THEY
REPORTED TO YOUR OFFICE THAT
THEY OUGHT NOT TO HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO.
IN ADDITION, ON AT LEAST ONE
OCCASION YOUR JUDICIAL
ASSISTANT WAS ALSO EXPOSED
TO THAT REGRETTABLE WEB SITE
IMAGE OR PRESENT IN YOUR
OFFICE DURING A REPAIR
SERVICE CALL.
YOU REPEATEDLY IGNORED
E-MAIL WARNING FROM A
TECHNOLOGY STAFF ADVISING
YOU OF THE RISK TO THE
ENTIRE COMPUTER NETWORK.
YOU RISKED THE ENTIRE
NETWORK DUE TO YOUR VIEWING
OF THOSE WEB SITES.
IN ADDITION WHILE DENYING
YOUR ACTION ROSE TO THE
LEVEL OF SEC -- SEXUAL
HARASSMENT.
WHEN YOU APPEARED HERE
BEFORE YOU DID ACKNOWLEDGE
THE INPROPRIETY DIRECTED
TOWARD THE FEMALE ASSISTANT
STATE ATTORNEY WHILE WORKING
IN ABOUT THE COURTHOUSE AND
WHILE WORKING AND APPEARING
BEFORE YOU.
YOU MAY -- YOU MADE
TELEPHONE CALLS INVITED HER
TO LUNCH AND TKEUFRPB -- DINNER.
YOUR BEHAVIOR TOWARD THIS
LAWYER EMBARRASSED HER AND
SUFFERED THE MOCK AND
RIDICULE OF OTHERS.
IT'S INEXCUSABLE.
IN MARCH YOU ASKED OF -- OF
2005 YOU ASKED ANOTHER
FEMALE ATTORNEY TO APPROACH
THE BENCH WHILE THE COURT
WAS IN SESSION.
AND YOU ENGAGED IN PERSONAL
CONVERSATIONS DURING COURT
TIME.
YOU SENT E-MAILS REGRETTABLE
E-MAILS NICE SEEING YOU IN
COURT LOOKING SO PRETTY.
BEST REGARDS, GREAT SEEING
YOU LAST NIGHT, YOU LOOKED
GOOD ENOUGH, TO -- OH, WELL,
WISHFUL THINKING.
JUDGE, DOWN KPWREU, WHAT
WERE YOU THINKING?
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
BY CONDUCTING YOURSELF IN
THIS MANNER, YOU'VE IMPAIRED
THE CONTY AGAINST OF THE
CITIZENS OF THE STATE AND
THE INTEGRITY THAT WE WORK
SO HARD TO MAINTAIN.
YOU'VE IMPAIRED THE PUBLIC'S
CONTY AGAINST YOU AS A JUDGE
AND YOU'VE IMPAIRED
CONFIDENCE IN ALL OF US THAT
SIT HERE ON THIS BENCH THIS
MORNING.
YOU'VE CONDUCTED YOURSELF IN
A MANNER UNBECOMING OF THE
MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY AND
YOU VIOLATED SEPARATE AND
MULTIPLE CAN -- CANONS OF
THE CODE OF JUDICIAL
CONDUCT.
YOU VIE LATERED CANON ONE BY
FAILING TO MAINTAIN THE
INTEGRITY OF THE JUDICIARY,
AND CANON-2-5 BY REOATING
PUBLIC CONFY DECEMEMBER IN
THE EVIDENCE OF THE SKWREUGS
ARE I.
WHETHER YOU HAVE A VERY,
VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND
HAVE A SICKNESS OR JUST
PLAIN STUPID THE IMPACT ON
ALL OF US IS ENORMOUS.
WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL
MANDATED PROCESS THROUGH
WHICH WE ADDRESS CONDUCT
SUCH AS THIS AND INVEST
SUBSTANTIAL AUTHORITY TO
JUDICIAL QUALIFICATION.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR
STIPULATION, IS THE REASON
YOU ARE HERE FOR A REPRIMAND
AND OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE
STIPULATION WAS ALMOST A
DEAL WITH THE DEVIL BECAUSE
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE
WERE VIRTUALLY FORCED TO
ACCEPT THE STIPULATION TO
PLACE YOU BEYOND THE
COURTROOM FOR -- ON A
PERMANENT BASIS, ALTHOUGH,
YOU ARE PERMITTED TO STAY
FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'RE HERE TODAY IN
THE -- IN AN ATTEMPT TO
PRESERVE AND RESTORE PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE DO AND
IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU ACCEPTED THE
JUDICIAL OFFICE AND, SIR, WE
DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SERVE
WELL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
YOU STEPPED ACROSS THE RANKS
OF EASTERN OR TPHAEURD
CITIZEN AND YOU ASSUMED AN
OTHER TO BE A JUDGE.
THAT'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST A
PHYSICAL STEP.
IT MUST BE A TOTAL PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL COMMITMENT TO
SERVE JUSTICE, TO SERVE THE
IDEALS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
AND TO LIVE THE IDEALS OF A
PROPER JUDICIAL OFFICER.
OUR BEHAVIOR MUST BE OPEN
FOR CONSIDERATION AT ALL
TIMES IF WE ARE TO EXPECT
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH TO
ADVANCE AND PROTECT THE RULE
OF LAW THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY TO HOLD US
TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE.
THE BEHAVIOR THAT HAS
BROUGHT YOU HERE TODAY IS A
TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THOSE
IDEALS AND THE IDEALS THAT
WE MANDATE FOR OURSELVES.
NOW WHILE IN YOUR PERSONAL
LIFE YOU MAY CERTAINLY HAVE
LIBERTIES TO ENGAGE IN
ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE
PROTECTED BY THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE PRIVACY
OF YOUR OWN HOME OR OTHER
LOCATIONS WHETHER THAT WOULD
BE DISGUSTING OR NOT FROM
OTHER FOLKS, BUT AS AN
OFFICER OF THE COURT IT IS
COMPLETELY TOTALLY BLATANTLY
INAPPROPRIATE TO USE THE
PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE OF
FLORIDA IN A BUILDING OWNED
BY THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA FOR
VIEWING PORNOGRAPHY.
MORE THAN SIMPLY
INAPPROPRIATE IT'S TOTALLY
DISRESPECTFUL.
DISRESPECTFUL OF THE
POSITION, DISRESPECTFUL OF
THE SUPPORT PERSONNEL
WORKING IN THE COURTHOUSE,
DISRESPECTFUL OF THE
CITIZENS OF THE STATE AND
DISRESPECTFUL OF EVERY JUDGE
WHO IS HONORED YOU SOILED.
YOU ARE GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE
OF DECIDING MATTERS OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO FAMILIES,
IMPORTANCE TO SOCIETY, AND
MAKING DECISIONS THAT IMPACT
THE VERY ESSENCE OF OUR
REPUBLIC.
ALONG WITH THIS PRIVILEGE
COMES THE ABSOLUTE
RESPONSIBILITY OF MEETING
EXPECTATIONS OF BEHAVIOR.
THE RESPONSIBILITY CAN AT
TIME BE VERY, VERY HEAVY.
BUT WE CANNOT SLIP.
THE TYPE AND DEGREE OF THE
REPETITIVE UNACCEPTABLE
BEHAVIOR IN WHICH YOU
ENGAGED PAINTS A PICTURE OF
SOMEONE WHO IS SIMPLY DOES
NOT UNDERSTAND THE
RUDEMENTRY BOUNDS OF
JUDICIAL DECORUM OR JUST
DOESN'T CARE.
THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE OF
FLORIDA TO VIEW THESE WEB
SITES ON THE TIME OF THE
PEOPLE OF FLORIDA WOULD NOT
BE TOLERATED BY ANY EMPLOYEE
AND THAT BEHAVIOR CERTAINLY
AND CANNOT BE TOLERATED BY
OUR JUDICIAL OFFICERS.
THE CONDUCT AS -- IS FALLEN
SHORT OF THE STANDARD THAT
WE SIT -- SET FOR OURSELVES
AND IT'S DISREGARD FOR THE
ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY YOU
ASSUMED WHEN YOU ENTERED
THIS OFFICE.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN
THE COURTHOUSE SUPPORT
PERSONNEL AND YOUR JUDICIAL
ASSISTANT WAS EXPOSED TO
THIS MATERIAL YOU HAD NO
RIGHT TO EXPOSE THEM TO THAT
KIND OF MATERIAL.
THE COURTHOUSE JUST AS IN
OTHER WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE A
PLACE IN WHICH EMPLOYEES ARE
EXPOSED TO UNWELCOME AND
DISCUSSING IMAGES OF ANY
VARIETY.
FAR FROM SERVING A MODEL TO
OTHER WORKPLACES, YOUR
RECKLESS BEHAVIOR
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION
OF REALLY WHAT WAS A HOSTILE
WORK ENVIRONMENT IN THAT
COURTHOUSE AND IN YOUR
CHAMBERS.
WE WILL NOT AND CANNOT
TOLERATE THAT TYPE OF
ENVIRONMENT FOR ANY OF OUR
EMPLOYEES.
THE DISREGARD FOR THE
TECHNOLOGY OF OTHER JUDGES
IS ALSO FAR BEYOND BELIEF.
AFTER NUMEROUS WARNING THAT
THOSE WEB SITES CARRIED
VIRUSES AND CAUSING
INFECTION, YOU CONTINUED ON
AND ON AND ON.
NOTWITHSTANDING THOSE
WARNINGS.
IN A DAY IN AGE WHEN THE
COURT ARE INCREASINGLY
DEPENDENT ON OUR COMPUTER
SYSTEMS FOR THE VERY
OPERATION OF OUR DAY-TO-DAY
BUSINESS YOUR CALLOUS
DISREGARD FOR THAT RISK
POSED A TERRIBLE INEXCUSABLE
CIRCUMSTANCE.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE THE WAY
YOU BEHAVED AND ALL JUDICIAL
OFFICERS MUST UNDERSTAND
THAT.
THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE
JUDICIARY IS EACH JUDGE AS
WE WORKDAY IN AND DAY OUT
OUR MAYOR CAN SERVE AS A
POSITIVE MODEL FOR
IMPRESSIONABLE YOUTH OF THIS
STATE.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE HIGH
ETHICAL STANDARD WE SET FOR
ALL OFFICERS WOULD FOSTER A
SITUATION IN WHICH EVERY
JUDGE WOULD BE VIEWED AS THE
PITAMY FOR THE POSITIVE
EXAMPLE FOR THE YOUNGEST
CITIZEN OF FLORIDA IN
CITY -- INSTEAD OF SERVING
AS THAT ROLE MODEL YOUR
BEHAVIOR TEST NOT ONLY AN
UNFAVORABLE IMAGE OF THE
JUDICIARY, IT PRESENTED THE
WORST OF ALL POSSIBILITIES
TO DARK CLOUD ON ALL OF US
TO OUR CHILDREN.
THIS MORNING REPRIMAND IS AN
EMBARRASSING MOMENT, NOT
ONLY FOR YOU BUT FOR ALL OF
US ON THIS BENCH FOR THE
ENTIRE JUDICIAL BRANCH AN
EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE PEOPLE
OF FLORIDA.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S
ROOM FOR FUN AND FOR FROLIC
AND HUMAN NATURE BUT NOTHING,
NOTHING ABOUT THE PATTERN OF
THE BEHAVIOR THAT'S BROUGHT
YOU HERE EVEN HENCE OF
PROPRIETY.
I AM EMBARRASSED TO SIT IN
THE MIDDLE CHAIR THIS
MORNING IN FRONT OF THE
CITIZENS OF FLORIDA TO HAVE
TO CALL YOU BEFORE THE COURT
FOR THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT.
TO HAVE A JUDGE COMPELLED TO
COME BEFORE THIS COURT
BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF
BEHAVIOR WHICH YOU HAVE
STIPULATED CONSTITUTES A
TRUE TARNISH.
IF YOU ARE NOT, I AM
EMBARRASSED FOR YOU FAMILY,
FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE
WOULD ALL APOLOGIZE TO ALL
OF THEM, YOUR BEHAVIOR IS
DISRESPECTFUL TO ALL OF THE
PEOPLE ACROSS THIS GREAT
STATE WHO HAVE PROVIDED YOU
WITH THE SUPPORT AND
PROVIDED YOU LOVE AND HAVE
ALLOWED YOU TO OBTAIN AND
MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION AS A
JUDICIAL OFFICER.
YOU OWE THEM AN APOLOGY AS
MUCH AS TO ANYONE ELSE.
ACCORDING TO THE STIPULATION,
YOU WILL RETAIN YOUR
POSITION UNTIL JANUARY 1,
2007 AT WHICH TIME YOU MUST
RETIRE PERMANENTLY FROM THE
BENCH.
YOU WILL NOT SERVE AS A
SENIOR JUDGE AND WILL NOT
SEEK APPOINTMENT OR ELECTION
AS A JUDGE IN ANYTIME IN THE
FUTURE.
YOU MUST ALSO SIGN AND
PROVIDE TO THE JUDICIAL
QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION A
LETTER OF PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR
YOUR ACTIONS THAT WE
ADDRESSED TODAY AND IT MUST
BE ADDRESSED TO THE CITIZENS
OF FLORIDA, YOUR FELLOW
JUDGES, AND TO THE LEGAL
COMMUNITY.
WHILE YOU REMAIN IN THAT
POSITION FOR THIS SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME, YOU WILL
HAVE RESTRICTED ACCESS TO
E-MAIL AND THE INTERNET ON
THE PUBLIC PROPERTY.
YOU MUST CONTINUE YOUR
COUNSELING UNTIL SUCH TIME
AS YOUR COUNSELOR RELEASES
YOU FROM THAT TREATMENT.
YOU WILL PROVIDE A COPY OF
THAT RELEASE TO THE FLORIDA
JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS
COMMISSION.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU
MUST ALSO SIGN A LETTER OF
RESIGNATION THAT WILL TAKE
EFFECT SHOULD THE JUC FIND
PROBABLE CAUSE TO CHARGE YOU
WITH ANY TKEURBLG ETHICAL
VIOLATION OR IF YOU FAIL TO
ABIDE WITH BY THE TERMS OF
THE STIPULATION.
JUDGE DOWNEY, BECAUSE
THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANY OF
US CAN UNDO WHAT YOU HAVE
DONE, WE REQUIRED THAT YOU
BE HERE TODAY FOR THIS
PUBLIC REPRIMAND.
THE DISCIPLINING OF JUDGES
WHO COMMIT ETHICAL BREACHES
IS A RESPONSE THABLT THIS
COURT REGARDS AS VITALLY
NECESSARY TO MAINTAINING THE
INTEGRITY OF THE JUDICIAL
BRANCH.
IT IS BUT A SMALL WAY THAT
WE CAN ASSURE THE PUBLIC,
THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA THAT
WE TAKETHCAL BREECHES BY
JUDGES VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
AS A JUDGE IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA FOR THELENTH OF YOUR
CAREER YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
BETTER.
BUT YOU ACTED OUT OF
IGNORANCE, ARROGANCE,
WITHOUT THINKING, IT'S A
SHADOW ON ALL OF US.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS
REPRIMAND WILL CONVEY TO YOU
AND ALL OFFICERS AND THE
PEOPLE OF FLORIDA THE
IMPORTANCE OF THEDY REESE
SUSPECTFUL GROSSFULLY
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AS
WELL AS ANY BEHAVIOR THAT
THREATENS THE INTEGRITY OF
OUR PROCESS.
THE JUDICIARY SERVES TO
IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR
SOCIETY, TO ALLOW ANY ONE OF
US TO JEOPARDIZE THE
INTEGRITY.
YOUR BEHAVIOR JUDGE DOWNEY
HAS THREATENED TO DO JUST
THAT.
LET THIS BE A MESSAGE THAT
SUCH BEHAVIOR BY JUDICIAL
OFFICERS SIMPLY WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED.
JUDGE DOWNEY, I REGRET THAT
YOU HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND I'M EMBARRASSED TO HAVE
TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER.
YOU ARE OUT YOUR PUBLIC
REPRIMAND IS CONCLUDED AND
YOU MAY LEAVE NOW, SIR.
>> MAY I SAY A WORD.
>> YES, SIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO HUMBLY
ACCEPT THE REPRIMAND YOU
HAVE GIVEN ME.
I HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MY
ACTIONS CERTAINLY WERE
INAPPROPRIATE FOR A JUDGE.
CERTAINLY ONE OF MY LONG.
I HAVE ALREADY SIGNED THE
APOLOGY TO THE JQC DIRECTED
TO JUDGE WOLF.
I'VE ALREADY SIGNED THE
LETTER OF RESIGNATION
DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNOR
SHOULD THE JQC FIND FURTHER
ACTION.
I HAVE ALREADY APOLOGIZED
PROFUSE WILL Y TO MY FAMILY
AND FRIENDS FOR ANY
EMBARRASSMENT THIS MIGHT
HAVE CAUSED.
I AM HUBBELLABLY AND
TRUTHFULLY SORRY FOR MY
ACTION.
AND I HAVE BEGGED EVERYONE
FORGIVENESS.
IN MY RELIGION I AM TAUGHT
THAT IF YOU ADMIT YOUR
SHORTCOMINGS AND SINS TO GOD
AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS
THAT YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN.
I FEEL IN MY HEART HAVING
DONE THAT, THAT GOD HAS
FORGIVEN ME FOR MY SINS.
I FEEL THAT MY FAMILY AND
FRIENDS HAVE TOO.
INCLUDING THOSE FRIENDS OF
MINE WHO EVEN WITH THE
CHARGES PENDING URGE ME TO
RUN FOR REELECTION.
BUT I DECLINED THAT BECAUSE
I DID NOT WANT TO CAUSE ANY
ADDITIONAL EMBARRASSMENT OR
PUBLICITY OF THIS MATTER TO
MY FAMILY.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.