I've pasted in the text of the letter, dated September 25, 2007, that I received from AAG Joslyn Wilson this afternoon below in response to formally reporting illegal electronic surveillance to AG Bill McCollum.
September 25, 2007
Dear Mr. Keegan:
The Office of Attorney General Bill McCollum has received your letter requesting this office to investigate the actions of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department. You state that these agencies are guilty of official misconduct and the illegal interception of wire, oral and electronic communications. You also accuse the State Attorney of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and one of his associates of official misconduct by refusing to investigate your charges and the evidence you provided to that office.
Florida’s state attorneys are independent constitutional officers; they operate independently and are not a part of the Attorney General’s Office. Moreover, it is the elected state attorney in each judicial circuit, not this office, that is responsible for prosecuting crime at the local level. See Article V, section 17, Florida Constitution, providing in part that the state attorney for each judicial circuit “shall be the prosecuting officer of all trial courts in that circuit…”, and section 27.02, Florida Statues. Thus, the prosecution of offenses rests with the state attorney’s office in the judicial circuit where the offense occurred. The state attorneys operate independently and their decisions regarding whether or not to prosecute a criminal case are not subject to the authority of this office. It is within the responsibility of the State Attorney’s office to exercise prosecutorial discretion based on a review of the evidence, the applicable law, and the available resources of that office. See generally State v. Cotton, 769 So. 2d 345, 350 (Fla. 200) (absent a compelling equal protection argument, the exercise of such prosecutorial discretion is not generally subject to judicial review).
While the Governor has the authority to review the actions of a state attorney for malfeasance or misfeasance in office, such review does not generally extend to the state attorney’s exercise of his or her prosecutorial discretion. The Governor, however, under Part II of Chapter 27, Florida Statues, has the authority to issues executive orders assigning “special prosecutors,” which are state attorneys assigned to handle criminal matters outside of their particular circuits. See section 27.14, Florida Statues. If you believe that the state attorney in your judicial circuit has a conflict regarding this matter, you should contact the Governor’s office at the following address: Executive Office of the Governor, PL-05, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001.
In addition, this office does not have specific authority to enforce the provisions of the Public Records Law. As you are aware, this office operates a voluntary mediation program pursuant to section 16.60, Florida Statutes. However, as the program is voluntary and it appears that the state attorney’s office is not interested in participating in the program, this office has no authority to proceed. There are various civil remedies that may be brought by a private individual under the Public Records Law. You may wish to consult a private attorney to discuss your options.
I trust you will understand this office’s lack of statutory authority to become more directly involved in this matter. Thank you for sharing your concerns with the Attorney General’s Office.
Sincerely,
Signed by
Joslyn Wilson
Assistant Attorney General
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum
CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED #7006 0100 0004 4316 7461
The Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
Fax: 850-410-1630
Dear Attorney General McCollum,
Pursuant to Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4, I’m notifying you in your official capacity as Florida’s Attorney General of official misconduct and illegal interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications by the FDLE and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department. In addition, I am charging State Attorney Steve Meadows and Chief Assistant State Attorney William A. Lewis with covering up the FDLE’s and Holmes County Sheriff’s Department official misconduct by refusing to investigate my charges and the evidence that I provided.
On former Gov. Jeb Bush’s suggestion, I forwarded evidence of this illegal electronic surveillance to my State Attorney. SA Meadows never acknowledged or replied to the evidence that I provided or any of my communications. Assistant State Attorney Lewis eventually replied to a Public Records Request, which Mr. Meadows ignored. However, in a letter, dated 12-6-06, Mr. Lewis wrote: “All inquiries by this office have failed to substantiate any of your claims. Absent any credible evidence this office is closing our file.” Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis is lying in order to cover up official misconduct by Florida Law Enforcement Officers. Electronic surveillance experts indicated that audio phenomenon recorded in the VHS videotape that I provided as one piece of evidence was indicative of electronic surveillance. Other evidence provided corroborates my charges on the face of it.
In response to a 12-16-06 Public Records Request for the closed file containing records of his “inquiries,” Mr. Lewis only provided: a copy of my Public Records Request and some earlier correspondence. He did not supply any records or references to the evidence that I provided. JoAnn Carrin, Director of Open Government, EOG, indicated that these issues are appropriate for the OAG Open Government Mediation Program. In response to my request for Open Mediation regarding the SAO’s inadequate response, Assistant Attorney General Joslyn Wilson wrote Mr. Lewis on 8-28-07 requesting that he notify her by 9-5-07 if the SAO wished to participate in this voluntary program. On 9-12-07, Assistant Attorney General Wilson closed my mediation case file because Assistant State Attorney Lewis had not replied to her. Mr. Lewis did not reply because he is lying and covering-up official misconduct by FL law enforcement.
If I had known beforehand that you were to be the keynote speaker at the Bonifay Republican Reagan Day Dinner on 9-6-07, I would have attended in order to discuss this official misconduct and provide you with the same evidence that the SAO refuses to address. Since I missed this recent opportunity, I would like to either present this evidence to you personally or else forward it. Please reply by 10-5-07. Thank you.
Regards,
Joe Keegan
The Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
Fax: 850-410-1630
Dear Attorney General McCollum,
Pursuant to Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4, I’m notifying you in your official capacity as Florida’s Attorney General of official misconduct and illegal interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications by the FDLE and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department. In addition, I am charging State Attorney Steve Meadows and Chief Assistant State Attorney William A. Lewis with covering up the FDLE’s and Holmes County Sheriff’s Department official misconduct by refusing to investigate my charges and the evidence that I provided.
On former Gov. Jeb Bush’s suggestion, I forwarded evidence of this illegal electronic surveillance to my State Attorney. SA Meadows never acknowledged or replied to the evidence that I provided or any of my communications. Assistant State Attorney Lewis eventually replied to a Public Records Request, which Mr. Meadows ignored. However, in a letter, dated 12-6-06, Mr. Lewis wrote: “All inquiries by this office have failed to substantiate any of your claims. Absent any credible evidence this office is closing our file.” Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis is lying in order to cover up official misconduct by Florida Law Enforcement Officers. Electronic surveillance experts indicated that audio phenomenon recorded in the VHS videotape that I provided as one piece of evidence was indicative of electronic surveillance. Other evidence provided corroborates my charges on the face of it.
In response to a 12-16-06 Public Records Request for the closed file containing records of his “inquiries,” Mr. Lewis only provided: a copy of my Public Records Request and some earlier correspondence. He did not supply any records or references to the evidence that I provided. JoAnn Carrin, Director of Open Government, EOG, indicated that these issues are appropriate for the OAG Open Government Mediation Program. In response to my request for Open Mediation regarding the SAO’s inadequate response, Assistant Attorney General Joslyn Wilson wrote Mr. Lewis on 8-28-07 requesting that he notify her by 9-5-07 if the SAO wished to participate in this voluntary program. On 9-12-07, Assistant Attorney General Wilson closed my mediation case file because Assistant State Attorney Lewis had not replied to her. Mr. Lewis did not reply because he is lying and covering-up official misconduct by FL law enforcement.
If I had known beforehand that you were to be the keynote speaker at the Bonifay Republican Reagan Day Dinner on 9-6-07, I would have attended in order to discuss this official misconduct and provide you with the same evidence that the SAO refuses to address. Since I missed this recent opportunity, I would like to either present this evidence to you personally or else forward it. Please reply by 10-5-07. Thank you.
Regards,
Joe Keegan
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Reagan Day Dinner
September 8, 2007
The Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
Fax: 850-410-1630
Re: Bonifay Reagan Day Dinner
Dear Attorney General McCollum,
I’m sorry that I missed the opportunity to meet with you this past Thursday, Sept. 6. Yesterday, Friday, Sept. 7, I read in the HOLMES COUNTY TIMES-ADVISER, Sept. 5, 2007 edition, that you were to be the keynote speaker at the HC Republican Party’s bi-annual Reagan Day Dinner on Sept. 6. If I had known about this event beforehand, I would have attended in order to meet with you in an attempt to resolve an on-going issue.
Regards,
Joe Keegan
The Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
Fax: 850-410-1630
Re: Bonifay Reagan Day Dinner
Dear Attorney General McCollum,
I’m sorry that I missed the opportunity to meet with you this past Thursday, Sept. 6. Yesterday, Friday, Sept. 7, I read in the HOLMES COUNTY TIMES-ADVISER, Sept. 5, 2007 edition, that you were to be the keynote speaker at the HC Republican Party’s bi-annual Reagan Day Dinner on Sept. 6. If I had known about this event beforehand, I would have attended in order to meet with you in an attempt to resolve an on-going issue.
Regards,
Joe Keegan
OAG Open Government Mediation Program
The USPS verified delivery on August 31, 2007 of the certified letter below:
August 30, 2007
The Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
Re: OAG Open Government Mediation Program
Dear Attorney General McCollum,
I’ve attached a copy of my Florida Public Records Request, dated December 16, 2006, that I sent to the State Attorney’s Office in Panama City, FL. The USPS verified its delivery on Dec. 19, 2006 at 3:20 PM. On former Gov. Jeb Bush’s suggestion, I forwarded evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by the FDLE and Holmes County Sheriff’s Department to my State Attorney. I never heard from SA Meadows; however, ASA Lewis eventually replied to an earlier FL PRR. The response that I received to my Dec. 16, 2006 PRR was totally inadequate, consisting only of some of my earlier correspondence while omitting material evidence that I had sent to the SAO, such as a January 5, 2001 letter from William S. Rimes, WFEC Executive VP & CEO, and email from another party. In addition, there was no mention of a VHS videotape- a crucial piece of evidence- that I sent to SA Meadows. Electronic surveillance experts described the recorded audio phenomenon in the VHS videotape as indicative of electronic surveil-lance. Furthermore, there was no indication in the records provided that either Mr. Meadows or Mr. Lewis questioned former FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnel, who was employed by SA Meadow’s office at the time. Earlier, Gov. Bush had forwarded my complaint to then FDLE Commissioner Tunnel at the time that he suggested that I bring any evidence of my charges to my State Attorney. The SAO didn’t supply anything in response to my FL Public Records Request, dated Dec. 16, 2006, that could even remotely be described as a case file, which would have served as the basis for Mr. Lewis' Dec. 6, 2006 letter discussed in this Public Records Request (see attached).
JoAnn Carrin, Director of Open Government, EOG, indicated that these issues are appropriate for the OAG Open Government Mediation Program. I hope that you can help. If you need any additional information or have any questions, please contact me. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
August 30, 2007
The Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
Re: OAG Open Government Mediation Program
Dear Attorney General McCollum,
I’ve attached a copy of my Florida Public Records Request, dated December 16, 2006, that I sent to the State Attorney’s Office in Panama City, FL. The USPS verified its delivery on Dec. 19, 2006 at 3:20 PM. On former Gov. Jeb Bush’s suggestion, I forwarded evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by the FDLE and Holmes County Sheriff’s Department to my State Attorney. I never heard from SA Meadows; however, ASA Lewis eventually replied to an earlier FL PRR. The response that I received to my Dec. 16, 2006 PRR was totally inadequate, consisting only of some of my earlier correspondence while omitting material evidence that I had sent to the SAO, such as a January 5, 2001 letter from William S. Rimes, WFEC Executive VP & CEO, and email from another party. In addition, there was no mention of a VHS videotape- a crucial piece of evidence- that I sent to SA Meadows. Electronic surveillance experts described the recorded audio phenomenon in the VHS videotape as indicative of electronic surveil-lance. Furthermore, there was no indication in the records provided that either Mr. Meadows or Mr. Lewis questioned former FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnel, who was employed by SA Meadow’s office at the time. Earlier, Gov. Bush had forwarded my complaint to then FDLE Commissioner Tunnel at the time that he suggested that I bring any evidence of my charges to my State Attorney. The SAO didn’t supply anything in response to my FL Public Records Request, dated Dec. 16, 2006, that could even remotely be described as a case file, which would have served as the basis for Mr. Lewis' Dec. 6, 2006 letter discussed in this Public Records Request (see attached).
JoAnn Carrin, Director of Open Government, EOG, indicated that these issues are appropriate for the OAG Open Government Mediation Program. I hope that you can help. If you need any additional information or have any questions, please contact me. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
Monday, September 10, 2007
surge
Well, we know for sure that at least one "surge" is working. The WRJM MessageboardSite Admin posted the following notice Saturday Sept. 8, 2007 at 7:40 pm:
Due to a surge of over 200 spam entries in our forum we have had to completely remove all posts and start over. We apologize if your favorite post was removed. In addition, you will need to re-register as a user to post to this forum.
Thank you for participating in WRJM FM's forum.
WRJM FM eliminated all the posts on their messageboard. My thread entitled, "Who's Watching Big Brother?" was the most popular. Why you have to re-register is beyond me, considering that it's exactly the same process as "pre-surge."
Due to a surge of over 200 spam entries in our forum we have had to completely remove all posts and start over. We apologize if your favorite post was removed. In addition, you will need to re-register as a user to post to this forum.
Thank you for participating in WRJM FM's forum.
WRJM FM eliminated all the posts on their messageboard. My thread entitled, "Who's Watching Big Brother?" was the most popular. Why you have to re-register is beyond me, considering that it's exactly the same process as "pre-surge."
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