Pulled over for speeding, then lying about the consequences. Someone should ask Pete Schwartzkopf whether enabling this chronic miscreant is worth it. Wait a minute, I’m asking that question.
But first, the latest antics from Sussex County’s ‘Bad Boy’. The News-Journal’s (buy it to read the story) Maureen Milford reports that, after being stopped for speeding on his way to Dover, and being let off with a warning:
…Atkins was still steamed that being pulled over by Cpl. Raymond St. Clair had made him late. Roughly two hours after his 1:44 p.m. stop, Atkins fired off a nasty email on his state account to the trooper’s boss, Capt. Galen M. Purcell, excoriating the “smart ass” officer who stopped him.“He was very arrogant, short and when he returned to give me my license decided to lecture me about the speed limit. Captain, I’m very aware of the speed limit, perhaps Cpl. St. Claire should read the constitution and read the section pertaining to Legislators traveling to the Capital. I missed role call and was marked absent for the day.”
“That pisses me off,” said the lawmaker.
May I take one moment and simply point out that what Atkins wrote about missing roll call is a lie? Thank you. As I’ve pointed out here on numerous occasions, legislators can be marked present at any time during the legislative day. They can even be marked present the FOLLOWING day before the previous day’s session is adjourned. Every legislator knows this. Every legislator therefore knows that Atkins was lying to the police captain in this e-mail. Oh, and every legislator who can read also knows that Atkins is wrong about his ‘interpretation of the State Constitution’.
This is nothing new to loyal readers of Delaware Liberal. John Atkins has posted over here, and spread lies about me and others, of course, often pretending to be someone else, a ‘friend’ of, wait for it, John Atkins. He is a serial liar, and he and I both know that I can prove it.
He is also used to intimidating law enforcement authorities. Have we forgotten the following?:
In his previous dust-up with fellow legislators in 2007, Atkins faced censure and a possible historic expulsion.He avoided that by resigning. Atkins’ troubles began when be was pulled over in Ocean City, Md., for speeding and driving erratically. His blood-alcohol was later measured above the Maryland limit.
He then flashed his legislative identification card, after the officers acknowledged his special legislative license plates. Police released Atkins into the custody of a friend. Hours later, Millsboro police officers were called to the Atkins home and charged him with offensive touching.
Almost as offensive as Atkins ongoing flouting of the law and flaunting of his ‘legislative privilege’ is the response of House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf. Schwartzkopf goes out of his way to run interference for Atkins:
“I understand how this is going to be taken by the public,” he said. “But I can assure you between the state police organization and corrections, I don’t know which one John loves more.”Schwartzkopf, a retired state trooper, said Atkins never intended his remark about St. Clair coming to Legislative Hall as a lobbyist as a threat.
“It wasn’t a threat about the DSP. It was: ‘[St. Clair] got smart with me on his field. Send him over so I can get smart with him on my field,’ ” Schwartzkopf said.
“…”I understand how this is going to be taken by the public,” he said. “But I can assure you between the state police organization and corrections, I don’t know which one John loves more.”
I think Schwartzkopf has been a very effective House Majority Leader, but I just have to call bullshit on this. Any reasonable person reading the entire e-mail (which you can read if you subscribe to the News-Journal) would read it precisely as a threat, because that is what it was. By ‘reasonable’ people, I include Speaker Gilligan and House Minority Leader Lavelle, who both clearly know how to read.
I think Schwartzkopf is trying to forestall some kind of ethical punishment for Atkins, which could include either censure and/or expulsion.
I think that Schwartzkopf should cut his losses. Nothing has changed about John Atkins except his party affiliation. He’s already had to resign from the General Assembly once. His behavior continues unabated. It’s only a matter of time before it happens again. Why? Because ‘this boy ain’t right’. And he ain’t gettin’ any better.
At least it’s great that, to quote Schwartzkopf, “…I can assure you between the state police organization and corrections, I don’t know which one John loves more.” He’d better love ’em because, barring a miraculous change in personality and behavior, Atkins will get to know both organizations on a more intimate and long-term level.