Nickles on Mayoral Travel Concerns: “Baloney!”
LL just spoke with Attorney General Peter Nickles. He personally addressed for the first time concerns about the secrecy surrounding the travels of his boss, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty:
"That's a bunch of baloney!" Nickles said. "People are chasing ghosts out there. He is entitled to his private life, and the political life does not necessarily preclude his having a private life."
LL noted to Nickles that when Fenty staff noted that his weeklong trip in February was a family vacation, no reporter begrudged him his private life. The trip only became controversial when he returned and it was revealed that the travel had official components and that it was paid for by a foreign government.
Said Nickles, "All I know is that my ethics guys looked at it, I looked at it," and neither found any wrongdoing.
Nickles noted he remains in touch with Hizzoner when he is on the road; in fact, Nickles noted, he spoke on the phone with Fenty at his undisclosed location not more than 10 minutes before he phoned LL.
"The press has more important things to do," he says. "When I see this stuff, I figure it's a slow news day."
6:31 pm
Fenty's in Bologna, Italy?
10:41 am
Nickles is like a mafia capo to Fenty's godfather. Both are as corrupt as Blago.
Look - Fenty is a public figure, the mayor of the city. We have a right to know where he is. We don't need details, but we do need some information.
If Fenty wants to disappear for a week or more several times a year, then let him quit his job & go into the private sector. Or he could move to North Korea & lead that country, if they're dumb enough to put him in charge.
10:42 am
Is Nickles saying that Fenty is like Kim Il Jung, & so he can disappear for weeks & months at a time.
Oh Dear Leader, Sweet Leader, please grant us the favor of your presence.
11:37 am
Peter Nickles is Fenty's Karl Rove.