(Update) The ethically challenged Phisher King, Tyler Vogt

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

There are those who downplayed what the Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, did in using a public records request to obtain Tucson City Council Members ward news e-mail lists (and other e-mail lists) for a commercial purpose, i.e., to spam Tucsonans with a solicitation for campaign contributions in a campaign e-mail. Here is why what this ethically challenged Tea-Publican troll did is wrong (and potentially illegal).

Equally ethically challenged Phoenix City Council Member Sal Diciccio sent an electronic newsletter from his district email account. The newsletter linked to a political committee that DiCiccio has been using to fight a possible recall election. DiCiccio e-mail probe forwarded to state attorney general:

An investigation into the way a Phoenix City Council member used his city e-mail account has been forwarded to the Arizona Attorney General's Office for review, after the city Law Department cited a conflict of interest in the matter.

The Phoenix Law Department has been looking into complaints that District 6 Councilman Sal DiCiccio misused city resources by sending out an electronic newsletter from his district e-mail account that links to a political committee he's been using to fight a possible recall election. The e-mails were sent on June 1.

City code and state law prohibit city employees from using public resources to influence elections.

As a result of the investigation, two employees from DiCiccio's office were found in violation of city administrative regulations and received "supervisory counseling" or a written reprimand. But questions of whether any state laws were violated have been left to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

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DiCiccio's chief of staff, Hal DeKeyser, received a written reprimand from the city for reviewing a draft of the newsletter that was linked to DiCiccio's anti-recall campaign.

The reprimand prohibited DeKeyser from "any involvement in the anti-recall effort or any other political activity." It also said he was not allowed to use his personal laptop to create city documents "to ensure transparency and compliance" with public-records law.

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An aide from DiCiccio's office received "supervisory counseling" for deleting e-mails in violation of the city's requirement that messages be retained for at least 30 days.

When the complaints first arose, DiCiccio said it was a mistake to have his official city e-mail address on the newsletter but that the message was not sent from his office or city computers.

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The city received more than 240 complaints asking Phoenix to investigate DiCiccio's newsletter.

So let's review. If any Tucson City Council Member had done what the Phisher King, Tyler Vogt did, the Arizona Daily Star would have assigned The Brodesky/O'Dell tag team (AKA, the B&O Journalistic Railroad) to the story — front page above the fold scandal at city hall! Pearl clutching editorials! And you can be certain that Attorney General Tom Horne could not contain himself at the thrill of investigating the Tucson City Council. Call in the FBI!

But because an ethically challenged Tea-Publican troll who is merely a candidate for city council violated the spirit, if not the letter of the law, ho-hum, not that big a deal at the Star.

Well it is a big deal. The Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, has demonstrated a lack of ethics and questionable character by violating the spirit, if not the letter of the law. It is a big red flag that maybe this is not someone you want to represent you in public office. What other ethical and legal lines will he be willing to cross?

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The Phisher King has his campaign signs up near my home. His tag line? "Want Jobs? Vote Vogt!" How unclever. Isn't it an article of faith among Tea-Publicans that government doesn't create jobs? The Fallacy That Government Creates Jobs | Daniel J. Mitchell | Cato Institute: Commentary. Is Tyler Vogt some kind of closet socialist who has infiltrated the Tea Party? Food for thought for the wingnuts.