Skip to main content
Donald Trump Dumps Portland
If you bet against Donald J. Trump setting foot in Portland this year, time to cash in. Trump abruptly canceled his planned Aug. 31 fundraiser and rally in Portland, saying he wanted to visit Louisiana flooding instead. The cancellation, first reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, comes after top GOP local fundraisers disavowed Trump to WW, saying they wouldn't support him. Trump also canceled stops in Colorado and Nevada. "Our supporters may be a bit disappointed, but they understand," says Jacob Daniels, Trump's Oregon campaign director. "I expect Mr. Trump and Gov. [Mike] Pence separately will make a trip to Oregon before Nov. 8."
Matt Wingard Defends His Reputation
A defeat in the May primary ended the bid by former state Rep. Matt Wingard (R-Wilsonville) for a political comeback. But he is plowing ahead with a defamation case against two of the ideological bulwarks of his party: Oregon Right to Life and the Oregon Family Council. Wingard sued the groups over mailers they produced characterizing a relationship he had in 2010 with a then-20-year-old aide as coerced ("A Violation of Trust?" WW, June 12, 2012). The defendants filed a motion in July asking a judge to throw out the case. But on Aug. 10, Wingard's attorney replied with a motion asserting the trial should go forward. A hearing is set for Sept. 7.
Terry Bean Case Takes an Unexpected Turn
Prosecutors dismissed charges of sex abuse of a minor against Portland investor and gay rights pioneer Terry Bean last year—after the alleged victim, a 15-year-old male, refused to testify against Bean. Now, an attorney for the young man has filed a tort claim notice against the city of Portland, alleging that Portland Police Bureau Detective Jeff Myers, who investigated the case, "repeatedly and intentionally" violated a court order protecting the alleged victim's identity, "informing individuals, who were not parties to the litigation of [his] status as a sexual abuse victim." The City Attorney's Office declined to comment.
Ammon Bundy May Not Get Trial by Facebook
The U.S. Department of Justice's case against Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers hit a potentially serious stumbling block Aug. 23 in U.S. District Court, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. As WW previously noted, the feds' case depends heavily on Facebook postings, which Judge Anna J. Brown previously agreed to allow into evidence. But on Tuesday, OPB reported, Brown told prosecutors she was unhappy that they'd introduced Facebook posts, unrelated to the Malheur occupation. "Prosecutors are trying to argue they screwed up—not the FBI—and that the FBI executed its search warrant properly," OPB's Conrad Wilson reported on Twitter. "Judge Brown isn't buying the government's argument." Brown is expected to rule whether the Facebook evidence is admissible Sept. 6—the day before trial. The DOJ declined to comment.
Willamette Week