It seems Al Getler, the sleazy Publisher of the Eagle Tribune and Derry News is up to his old tabloid tricks again by libeling State Representative-Elect Paul Adams (see full story below).
This is consistent with Getler's sleazy, unprofessional, yellow journalistic tactics that have driven sales of the tabloid Eagle Tribune and Derry News into the ground
Let Al Getler know what you think by contacting him at:
Al Getler
40 Hickory Ln
Stow, MA 01775
740-404-2214
al@algetler.com
agetler@eagletribune.com
By Bill Gilman
State Rep.-elect Paul Adams fired back at a Merrimack Valley newspaper over the weekend, in the wake of questions raised regarding his resume and the source of $50,000 in campaign contributions.
In a press release, Adams, an Andover Republican, referred to Eagle-Tribune employee Keith Eddings a "rogue reporter" and accused the North Andover-based daily of publishing "slanderous" articles.
In an article published in the Nov. 28 Eagle Tribune, Eddings wrote that Adams had outspent Patricia Commane by a 2-to-1 margin in the race for the Legislative seat from the 17th Middlesex District (which includes a portion of Tewksbury) and that Adams had loaned $50,000 to the campaign. Referring to state election financial statements, Eddings wrote that it could not be determined where that $50,000 came from and that Adams may have broken as many as three campaign finance laws.
The report sparked a call from State Democratic Party officials for an investigation of Adams by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF).
While acknowedging the possibility that he committed procedural mistakes in reporting financial information, he steadfastly denied being intentionally deceptive or committing ethical violations.
"The sole source of the approximately $50,000 that is the subject of the OCPF review, whose inquiry I welcome, was my own personal funds. The sources of most of these were tax-exempt gifts from immediate family members," said Adams, in the press release. "Any errors in the financial reporting or disclosure of those monies, assuming, without admitting, that there were such errors, were, at the end of the day, the result of political inexperience, nothing more."
The Eagle-Tribune article further stated that Suffolk University officials disputed Adams' claim that he graduated with honors (cum laude) from that Boston School. The article also called into question other campaign claims by Adams regarding his work record and travel abroad.
"Slanderous articles in one media outlet authored by one rogue reporter have consistently and falsely reported that I had misstated my academic credentials and employment history," said Adams.
Adams posted a copy of his Suffolk University diploma on his campaign website, as well a letter from Suffolk, attesting to his graduation with honors (see attachments).
"Another example of false reporting: it was contended by that same rogue
reporter in several stories that I had not worked as a consultant with a certain entity because I had not been paid by that entity," said Adams, in the release. "Again, those reports are blatantly false."
Adams holds that he did work as a consultant for the agency in question for three years.
In short, these reports that I made knowingly false or inaccurate statements about my educational and employment history are themselves false, and worse still, those reports may have been knowingly false when made," said Adams, in the release. "These are just two of several inaccuracies."
Adams said he would decline to comment further about the $50,000 he loaned his campaign until the conclusion of the OCPF investigation.
E-mails to Eagle Tribune Publisher Al Getler, Editor-in-Chief Al White and reporter Keith Eddings, seeking comment on Adams' allegations, were not returned.
