David Donley
P.O. Box 4634
White River Jct., VT 05001
e-mail; [email protected]

The below is the Dean FOIA letter with the newspaper articles,..., detailing the complete lack of accountability and some of the all - to - many abuses the legal community has perpetrated upon unsuspecting Vermonters. This can be used as a reference to various articles and insight into Vermont's political/legal system.

Dean met this with "executive privilege". I employed this in my case to get the case dismissed and record expunged. The articles and documents aren't with it but one can get some insight into the state of Vermont's judiciary by it.

I can't make it but pledge support in every other way I can until I can change my circumstances, in SOLIDARITY,

DD

December 07, 2022

Governor Howard Dean Pavilion Office Building Montpelier, Vermont 05609

Dear Governor Dean:

The purpose of this letter is to request, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and Vermont’s access to Public Records Act, the following information:

1) At the 1992 Democratic National Convention you gave a speech endorsing Clinton, asserting you were a Doctor (Josef Mengele was a Dr., and so is Howard Delozier who raped a fifteen year old girl in his office and never lost his license to practice in Vermont despite all the publicity, during your administration, copy att.), and you knew Clinton was going to effect medical care reforms. A March 8, 2023 BFP article titled, “Dean aides work outside Vt.,” (copy att.) informs that you sent several aides to Washington to work with Hillary Clinton on her health policy task force. One of the major findings of their study was that before we can effect medical reforms we would first have to effect “tort” reform as it was all the frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits that were driving costs up! Since then the issue died. That is, until the 2000 Democratic Convention where you once again got up and purported that now Gore was going to effect medical reforms. An article of 9-21-00, in the Washington Times (copy att.), informs that Gore has been linked with soliciting $100,000 campaign donations from rich trial lawyers in exchange for a presidential veto of “tort reform.” (I’ll bet “there’s no controlling legal authority” is good for that one too. )

1.a) Vermont taxpayers helped finance the studies for medical care reform, can we have a copy of that report?

1.b) Why not post it on the state’s web site especially the “tort reform” conclusions?

2.) How many tax dollars has the Attorney General’s office spent defending you in suits that were contrary to the “Public Welfare,” like the one reported in the Oct. 29, 1994 Burlington Free press (BFP) article, “Citizens’ group sues NYNEX, Dean, others,” (copy att.). Which reported, “A citizens’ group has filed a class action suit against Vermont’s largest telephone company, Gov. Dean and others...it wants 54 million dollars for overcharges...the Public Service Board recently ordered NYNEX to pay $12 Million to its Vermont customers...People are getting shafted in this by the entire government...in addition to Dean the suit named Attorney General Jeffrey Amestoy, Public Service Commissioner Richard Sedano, the Department of Public Service and the Public Service Board...Dean was named in the lawsuit because he intervened on behalf of NYNEX and took a $1,000 campaign donation from the company.”

2.a) How much has NYNEX and its executive officers donated to you and the State Democratic Committee?

2.b) How do you justify spending taxpayer money in a cause that was detrimental to the “public welfare” or their best interests?

2.c) Wouldn’t you have better served the public welfare by not intervening?

2.d) How much of the $58 million in overcharges did the ratepayers actually see returned?

3) In an Associated Press article posted in the Valley News dated Dec.19, 1998 (copy att.), “Dean, Utilities Like It; Activists See Flaws” the public is informed, “Jenny Carter of the Vermont Public Research Interest Group said ‘The most disappointing aspect of this report is that it seems that the utilities are protected, their shareholders are protected and their creditors are protected. But there are no ... protections for ratepayers.’”

3a) Wouldn’t constitutional concerns for the “Public Welfare” require consideration of the impact on ratepayers?

4.) A Rutland Daily Herald report of Nov. 27,1994 titled, “How Vt. Was Sold On Hydro-Quebec,” (copy att.)reports, “The Hydro-Quebec purchase also sheds some light into the decision making process at the highest levels of Vermont’s government and business, an often overlapping world of lawyers, lobbyists and corporate executives...Robert Sherman and Stephen Kimbell, Hydro-Quebec lobbyists in Vermont...Governor Dean called on friends to help him...among those advisers were Kimbell and Sherman, Paul Poirier, a lobbyist with Green Mountain Power, and William Gilbert, a lobbyist with CVPS... Later Dean picked David Wilson (a former lobbyist for GMP)as his administration secretary, ...Ben Ptashnik (D), a Norwich businessman,... paid $500 to attend a Democratic party fundraiser and set at a table with Dean in an attempt to persuade the governor to consider the contract’s full economic impact on ratepayers...Ptashnik said the governor was sitting with Sherman and Kimball at the dinner, ‘It was clear they had decided the issue for him,’....”

4.a) Are Sherman and Kimball employed by you, the State Democratic Committee or the state in any capacity or do you use them on a contractual case by case basis?

4.b) Who pays their fee when you employ them, taxpayers?

4.c) Several news articles (in addition to the ‘Hydro-Quebec’ article) such as “Lobbyist, government roles clash” printed in the March 8, 2023 BFP (copy att.) as well as, “Sorrell rips Flanagan over report - Auditor defends CHP-pact review” (copy att.) inform how various officials within your administration have violated state statutes in regard to conflicts of interest in lobbying; and your administration’s habit of ignoring the state’s competitive bidding guidelines. David Wilson and William Sorrell both lawyers in your administration helped to cover up their and your malfeasance, why should you and your cronies be allowed to duck the law while others (that are not “in the loop” ) are held to a higher standard of accountability?

4.d) If you really believed that the state contracts with Hydro - Quebec were in the best interests of the people of Vermont; why did you exert “Executive Privilege” when citizens rights groups requested basic information and documents regarding your “secret sessions” and negotiations? Jim Higgins, Chair of the Vermont Sierra Club pointed out in an article “UnHoly Alliances-Hydro-Quebec, Politics and Energy Policy in Vermont; Vermont Institutions such as Governor Dean’s Administration, the Dept. of Public Service Board, and even the Vermont State Supreme Court joined in an unholy Alliance with Wall Street...Various energy experts carefully explained to Gov. Dean, his Dept. of Pub. Service, to highly paid utility executives...that buying Quebec electricity...would bring economic disaster to Vermont...In Vermont the economic consequences have been making the news for months. Most Vermonters are feeling the impact of steadily rising electricity rates...Dean used utility lobbyists...he eagerly accepted campaign contributions from American Express, which at the time owned a subsidiary that stood to profit from financing the massive James Bay II Project...Dean has hidden behind “executive privileges....”

5.) A 1992 A.P. article published in the Valley News entitled, “Lawyer Complaints Overwhelm System” points out that lawyer complaints had increased 75% but the office responsible is able to investigate only a fraction of the charges. Quoting board spokesperson Wendy Collins, “Despite the rise in the public’s concern the PCB is able to devote full investigations to only a small percentage of the complaints it receives...of the 261 complaints filed last year, 70% were not pursued after an initial screening. Under present funding bar counsel is able to investigate about 60 cases a year and bring formal charges in no more than 20 cases a year...Most cases are closed without a formal investigation...The Professional Conduct Board is neither designed nor funded to operate as a consumer assistance program. It will never be able to address each complainant’s concerns.”

5.a) For all intent and purposes there is no regulation of lawyers in Vermont. Unscrupulous attorneys know this and take full advantage of the situation. In fact that is what I asserted to Auditor of Accounts Ed Flanagan, Secretary of the Treasury James Douglas, and former Secretary of state James Milne (all DemocRATS which I was until your maladministration)after reading a Dec.17, 1996 article in the Burlington Free Press titled, “Auditor urges scrutiny of Medical Practice Board-concerns include Public trust...,”and another article where the other three officers of the executive branch all advocated for “more oversight and accountability.” In my correspondence with them and your office I included the “Lawyer Complaints Overwhelm System” article along with a few articles detailing the Palmisano case (the Vermont Bankruptcy attorney who embezzled over $8 million from his clients even while there were complaints about him pending with the PCB). The response was pretty much the typical political babble, “My concern for public trust and accountability certainly extends to the JCB and PCB, but my jurisdiction does not. I’ve been very concerned...for some time....”came from Douglas who had been the Secretary of State for years. I know from conversations with investigators for the office of Professional Licensing that for years they informed him they were getting complaints from Vermonters (including but not limited to the Palmisano case) who had registered complaints with the PCB and JCB to no avail, Douglas turned a blind eye and deaf ear then too, discouraging any further inquiry.

Flanagan reiterated the self-preserving babble “ I share your concern about the general lack of responsiveness to the public’s needs demonstrated by Vermont’s licensing and disciplinary bodies. I also agree that more accountability and oversight are required to ensure that those bodies carry out the functions entrusted to them by the public in a more efficient and effective manner...” Milne’s response via his Deputy John Howland (former reporter now Deputy spinner to Flanagan) gets the spin Dr. award “Just so you understand our personal (rather than official) frame of reference regarding Joe Palmisano... Palmisano was convicted of embezzeling the proceeds from the sale of the family pharmacy that Jim ran for years in Barre. Jim’s mother was the victim... So that’s what I meant when I wrote you, ‘with regard to your comments on what would have happened had Mr. Palmisano been dealt with earlier, you won’t get any argument from us...let me return to our ‘official’ position...we don’t know much more about what these three regulators (JCB, PCB, and MPB) do than what we read in the newspapers, we are not prepared to criticize their performance...We agree all three should have independent oversight...We also feel the extreme secrecy involved in the discipline of lawyers is not in the public’s best interest...beyond that we have neither the information, nor the ability or authority to gather the information....”(copy att.).              As I asserted to you, “I am sure you are aware of the fact that many Vermonters are harmed by unscrupulous, overcharging, and incompetent lawyers in this state. Valid complaints are routinely dismissed with no action taken by the Boards policing the legal profession. I know from having worked with many groups in this state that many people do not lodge complaints for fear of retaliation...Results of family court proceedings demonstrate the contempt Vermont‘s judiciary has for legislative intent, more educated experts opinion and the public welfare” This is not idle rhetoric, it is verifiable fact. None of you will acknowledge it however, as you have encouraged, facilitated and benefited from the “lack of accountability” within the legal system and Government in general.

There are many other means of collecting evidence to demonstrate the multiple maladministrations of justice in this state such as reviewing published and especially unpublished cases (particularly appellants printed cases), the PCB’s yearly reports to the Vermont State Supreme Court, which demonstrate year after year the boards have reported the court failed to provide adequate funding for the investigative or prosecutorial functions of the board despite the steady increase in complaints about lawyers. Other feeble excuses include “lack of case law”; wonder why that is? Lack of case law doesn’t prevent them from finding technicalities to reverse jury tried murder convictions, that is if the murderer can afford to belly up to the bar and buy an expensive criminal defense lawyer. The Judicial Conduct Board does not even keep records (one of the concerns voiced by the DemocRATS of your executive branch regarding the MPB) the att. copy of response from the JCB chair attests to this. It goes beyond negligence to gross criminal negligence. These boards are designed to protect the image of the profession not the Public as such the Vermont State Supreme court has allowed many Vermonters to be harmed by their unethical, unscrupulous and incompetent brethren. There is more allegiance to the Fraternity than to any oaths swearing to “uphold the Constitution.”  

There are many sources of information that would demonstrate the bias, prejudice, negligence, malevolence and political activism of Vermont’s Bar Association and Supreme court including Periodicals, Law Reviews, Bar Journals, correspondence, public records, cases, articles by authoritative sources, statements, committees organized by the bar, (to lobby for legislation that benefits the Vt. Bar often to the detriment of the “general welfare”, to prosecute Pro Se litigants, to protect the Vt. Bars monopoly on the courts,....) But if one were to rely on newspaper accounts, as John Howland jr. purports is the only source of information, than I would have to conclude that it is only because today’s newspaper is tomorrows trash that nothing is done. As there have been an abundance of newspaper articles indicting Vermont’s Judiciary. If the newspaper accounts regarding the corruption in Vermont’s courts were posted on a web site so that people could see the deliberate indifference to the public welfare; they would be insisting that the articles of impeachment for Constitutional Treason, (that were killed in committee last session) against that black robed gang of five injustices (appointed mostly by you) be revived, redrafted and acted on by the full legislature. You, your Court, your Party, are living testimony to the proverbial saying “Power corrupts absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Senator Illuzzi’s case provides good insight into many facets of Vermont’s judiciary. Their values, lack of concern for the public welfare, abuse of process and public funds for their own agenda, their retaliatory nature, dedication to the fraternity rather than constitution, contempt for legislative intent.... That so many within the legislature and executive branch are aware of the many abuses and nothing is done to correct the situation is a sad commentary on the state of the State. Are you all in collusion? Or, have the executive and legislative branches been thoroughly intimidated by Vermont’s “High” Court, “Star Chamber.”?

The PCB received many complaints from former clients and opposing counsel to Illuzzi but they never recommended anything more than a verbal reprimand or three-month suspension. That is until Illuzzi wrote a legitimate letter of complaint to the JCB on behalf of his constituents regarding Judge David Suntag’s habit of forcing Vermonters from Essex and Orleans counties to travel to Orange county to have their cases heard (in a more convenient location for the judge). Illuzzi, in response to his constituents’ complaints, asked the judge to hear the cases in the county from which they came, which is what the law calls for anyway. Reason would dictate that it is more economically feasible for one man to travel 100 miles one way than for both the parties, their lawyers, and witnesses to travel and thus lose many more hours of pay (in lost wages and cost to lawyers) but, the reasonable man standard does not prevail in Vermont’s Judiciary. When reason and pleading failed Illuzzi drafted legislation stating simply, “No Essex Family Court cases shall be heard at any other location except Guildhall.” When Suntag still obnoxiously refused to consider the people being adversely affected Illuzzi wrote the JCB in secrecy (as prescribed by the rules) asking that he be compelled to obey the law. For that he was retaliated against and disbarred (copy of John McClaughry editorial att. relevant pleadings happily supplied upon request). In her pleadings against Illuzzi Shelley Hill noted there was no case law interpreting the family law statute and other judges had transferred cases out of Guildhall but Illuzzi did not make complaints about them. Concern for the public welfare might have prompted her to inquire of the other judges, contempt for legislative intent and the public welfare allowed her argument for interpretive case law. Despite many letters of support from various legislators informing the boards of what their “legislative intent” was, and letters from Speaker of the House Ralph Wright and lifelong member of the VBA John Bloomer expressing their concern for the retaliatory actions of the boards; the prosecution of Illuzzi continued and resulted in his disbarment for life. Pleadings in that case demonstrate you and members of your administration had personal knowledge of that case. Illuzzi has his license to practice today because he took his case to Federal District Court in Burlington and began exposing the corruption in Vermont’s Judiciary and the “Star Chamber” quality of the Vermont State Supreme Court. Rather than suffer any more exposure of the corruption in Vermont’s High court the injustices decided to allow Illuzzi his license back.

 

A January 28, 2023 A.P. article published in the Barre Times Argus titled by the quote of attorney David Kelley, “Illuzzi investigation Absolutely Despicable,” informs how, “the PCB hounded Illuzzi while ignoring serious violations by others...his attorney David Kelley informs how the board interviewed 143 potential witnesses, asking several of them if they knew if he had ever molested children, despite the lack of evidence to support that line of questioning...meanwhile alleged (later proven) embezzlement by a Manchester lawyer with ties to two former chairs of the board went uninvestigated for many months ...Kelley questioned whether the board was operating under ‘double standards, or any standards...Kelley said ...that many lawyers were afraid to testify before the panel for fear that their criticism would prompt retaliation...No one wants to trouble trouble if trouble isn’t troubling them...William Hunter also spoke in an interview of a climate of fear...”

In the Oct. 13, 1996 edition of the Rutland Daily Herald is an article “Probe the Conduct Board,” declaring, “The case of Manchester lawyer Gerald Cantini raises questions about whether the PCB plays favorites as it pursues its investigations. Cantini has been accused of hiding income, taking money from a client’s trust account, conflict of interests...Complaints eventually found their way to the PCB... former chairman of the board, J. Eric Anderson, who was an officemate of Cantini’s, knew about the allegations earlier but failed to report him. The chairwoman who succeeded Anderson, Deborah Banse was the lawyer representing Cantini in a divorce. Despite this association, she signed a letter dismissing a previous complaint against him...Staff workers employed by Cantini who reported shady doings say the only reason Anderson eventually filed a complaint was...the staff threatened to make the complaint themselves if he didn’t...The issue is larger than the Cantini case. Other cases have raised questions about whether the board has misplaced priorities.”

“Lawyer sued for 4th time in three years,” an article in the August 8, 2022 edition of the BFP points out that Cantini had been sued for malpractice four times since 1993. Two of the cases were resolved in out of court settlements another was still pending when Cantini incurred his fourth, “A Winhall man ...cheated out of his house and 10 acres...The suit filed in Bennington... by Ernest Salo alleges that Cantini secretly restructured a real estate deal that caused Salo to lose his property....” Cantini was under investigation by the PCB when Salo filed his suit.

Sunday December 10, 2022 the BFP published an article, “Board Slow to act on Palmisano” declaring, “We know what a piece of work Palmisano turned out to be. We know he fleeced 100 investors and clients out of $8million, pleaded guilty to a 44-count federal indictment... For 17 months after Vest filed his complaint with the secrecy-enshrouded Professional Conduct Board, the panel did nothing - nada. Only after...other victims filed complaints with the board in early 1994 did it finally yank his license...Even today the board has taken no formal action on Vest’s complaint. Instead the matter remains on ‘pending’ status, according to board lawyer Shelley Hill, ‘it’s still on the docket awaiting action,’ she said declining further comment...hardly comforting news to Vest... as he sees it, there’s no excuse for the board’s inaction. Even his malpractice suit against Palmisano...moved along faster... ‘Maybe it was too late for me’ he said of his case before the board. ‘But I felt like if the board had acted, somebody else’s interests could have been protected.’...Someone like Coleman and Luvia Mitchell of Randolph, for instance. In November 1992, they went to Palmisano seeking help...trusting him with their life savings... they never saw $100,00 of their money again...Or someone like Mark Mattote of Williamstown, who hired Palmisano to handle his divorce case and saw $137,000 his ex-wife was supposed to get during 1993 disappear into thin air. There’s nothing ‘pending’ about what they’ve suffered. It’s permanent.”

“ Between Life and Death” a November 28, 2022 article in the BFP tells, “ The Ronald Comeau described in court papers did not seem to be the person reporters saw lying in a hospital bed. Expecting a ‘vegetable’ they saw a man. ‘Helpless and hopeless,’ a Bennington Probate Court judge wrote of Comeau’s condition.”... ‘Very slightly above a persistent vegetative state,’ the judge wrote on Nov. 9. ‘He appears to be experiencing pain, terror, suffering and horror...There is no possibility of recovery or improvement in Comeau’s condition.’... Ten days later, reporters saw a man sitting in bed, gesturing with his arms, questioning their presence and responding to his family. In those ten days, Comeau’s feeding tube had been unhooked (at his guardian's request and with the court’s permission) to allow him to die, then had been reinstalled on an appeal by two clergymen. Rev. Michael McHugh found Comeau’s father... Has Comeau’s condition changed dramatically? Or was it wrongly characterized in court?...Vermonter’s can legitimately ask why neither the hospital, the courts nor the guardians were as determined as McHugh in seeking Comeau’s family....” Cross referencing to the “Illuzzi Investigation ‘Absolutely Despicable’” article, “McHugh told the bar association panel that the board (PCB) dismissed a complaint he had filed against Bennington lawyer Terrance Wolfe, who ‘by his own admission, ...did not walk the two blocks to the hospital to meet with his client’ which would have allowed him to see Comeau wasn’t comatose... Wolf refused to comment...Both Kelly and McHugh said the board’s actions should be more open to public scrutiny... To allow public review of inaction as well as action....”

As reported in a Dec. 1, 1993 RDH article, “Dean: Death Choice Private,” your reaction was typically Dean. As with anyone that has questioned your policies, agenda, or defense of the status quo, “Dean defended the motives of the (lazy, my emphasis) court-appointed guardian and the Bennington hospital in the case of Ronald Comeau, and he attacked those who questioned their motives...Dean criticized those who were suggesting ... the decision... was prompted by a desire to sell various organs... ‘The last thing I want is the state of Vermont telling me what’s going to happen to the people I love, ... This is a decision that needed to be made between the patient, the family and the doctor....” So why did you criticize the people responsible for contacting the family?

5.b) Did you ever read the article for the Washington post (Valley News Sept.12, 2000 copy att.) by James B. Stewart “The Silence that Protects Doctors Who Kill” the author of the book “Blind Eye: The Terrifying Story of a Doctor Who Got Away With Murder”? Times are changing Dr. Despot the walls of silence are coming down, too many people have been harmed by unscrupulous, unethical professionals and the collusion of their conduct boards, REFORMS are coming.

5.c) Will you advocate for Federal investigation into the affairs and abuses of Vermont’s judiciary as you did with Governor of California Pete Wilson after the acquittal in the criminal trial of the police officers in the Rodney king beating case?

5.d) It is somewhat sanctimoniously hypocritical to admonish other Governors for travesties of justice in their jurisdictions while ignoring a multitude of abuses within your own jurisdiction - is it not?

5.e) You don’t want the state telling you what’s “going to happen to the people I love,” yet when the people of “Who Would have Thought, Inc.” pointed out that your office has been endorsing “Outright Vermont’s” agenda of pushing the homosexual agenda on school children by authorizing and advocating for grants of “Education and outreach.” You retorted calling them “Despicable” for reporting the facts.... They put a concise poster together pointing out how the “gay” community is attempting to foist their values on elementary school children and how they consider any rehabilitative programs to be “Medical, Psychiatric, and ritualistic abuse...” (copy att.). With Witch Dr.s like you and your fraternal brother Howard Delozier (newspaper accounts demonstrate there have been a multitude of complaints about medical personnel and the MPB during your administration’s ‘Blind Eye Reign’) practicing they might have a point there. But, when polls across the Nation demonstrate the majority of parents want schools to teach abstinence if anything, in regards to sex, and all the medical data demonstrating that there is a higher incidence of AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and many other adverse health consequences associated with the “gay” lifestyle; how can you justify ignoring the public health threat and pushing this agenda on children, against the wishes of the majority of Parents?

5.f) Many people believe the Supreme court’s handling of the Illuzzii, Palmisano, Cantinii, Hydro-Quebec...cases had a “Chilling effect” on the legislature and that you took advantage of the situation by forcing yours and the National Democratic Committee’s Homosexual agenda on them by insisting the legislature consider it without delay, then stifling any real debate (legislators that tried to bring up the ill health effects of the lifestyle... were told such talk was not “civil”). Why the departure from protocol, why was there no summer study committee???

5.g) Is it possible they were afraid that public debate would have revealed that it is not “genetic” as homosexual activists purport? That there are actually groups with proven track records for correcting aberrant behavior such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA was founded by two Vermonters one a Dr. who took the Hippocratic oath prior to the AMA’s revised version emphasizing allegiance to the fraternity) whose twelve step program has been so successful it has been replicated throughout the world and adopted for various anomalous behaviors including Homosexual’s anonymous?

5.h) Is it possible that there is a higher incidence of Homosexual behavior in the legal community and in fact they are creating “special rights” not equal rights, which is something the judiciary has been doing for itself for years? A newspaper account of May 5, 2022 published in the Valley News entitled, “Mirski’s Constitutional Mission” informs “Mirski was assigned to a special legislative committee formed to investigate how former judge John C. Fairbanks managed to steal millions of dollars from his private law clients over the course of many years without being called to account. Mirski says...witnesses told how Fairbanks was suspected of trading judicial favors for sex with men who appeared before his bench... ‘What I discovered in the Fairbanks case is that the chief justice’s interest in protecting the records of judges mostly had to do with protecting the reputation of the court...”

5.i) Have you ever been subjected to, “ Medical, Psychiatric, and ritualistic abuse” for your little big man complex, (do you prefer Little Hitler, which befits your fascist style, or Little Caesar?).

6.) An October 4, 2022 BFP article, “Dean Ahead in fund Raising” informs of your fund raising efforts in Boston and Rhode Island quoting you, “To have it on hand as a marketing tool it solidifies a voter’s support...They feel like they’ve bought in.”

7.) A BFP article of October 17,1996, “Paying for power” made a good point, “Governor Howard Dean inadvertently made the perfect argument recently for reforming the way political campaigns are funded. ‘Big donors don’t buy influence,’ the governor said, but ‘do get access, there’s no question about that...to get me to return their phone calls.’ The heftiest campaign checks come from outside Vermont.”

An October 2, 2022 RDH report, “He’s a Lock in But Funds Still Roll Right In” details, “Howard Dean is raking in out-of-state money from lawyers, lobbyists, pharmaceutical companies, labor unions, real estate developers, Republicans and anyone else with enough cash to buy access or perhaps influence in the governors office. The out-of-state special interests tend to put big money... Of the $267,270 Dean has raised...71 percent came from out-of-state contributors...the donor list reads like a yellow pages of corporate America...”

7.a) How many times has the legislature drafted campaign finance laws (during your administration) in an effort to stop the influence of out-of-state contributors on Vermont politics?

8.) In a BFP article dated May 3, 2000, titled “The Judge’s Error” the people of Vermont are informed a judicial appointment of yours, Pat Zimmerman (of whom there were many legitimate complaints made to the Professional Conduct Board and your office prior to her appointment) barred a Vermont citizen from “all lands and property under control of the Supreme Court...including the Rutland District Court, parking areas and lands.” Simply because the man, Scott Huminski, had a sign on his van stating “Judge Corsones: Butcher of the Constitution.” (No doubt the real reason was Mr. Huminski was doing his own legal work Pro se and as such not paying into the monopoly the legal fraternity has on the courts. Pro Se litigants are targets of the Vermont Bar Association’s “Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law.” That and the fact lawyers subverted the intent of the first amendment in regard to their fraternity ‘faction’ a long time ago. ) The article goes on to declare “It is Huminski’s constitutional right to express his view...it is the court’s responsibility to ...deliver justice in an impartial manner, and to be unmoved by such trivial things as six-word signs... Equally troubling was the sentiment of the assistant attorney general defending the court order: ‘when there’s speech that impugns the integrity of the judicial system, that speech can be regulated.’ The case should prove educational for those who have forgotten the link between free expression and effective democracy. Unfortunately, at least one judge seems to be in need of this instruction.” Rather than recognize a citizens right to free speech the Attorney Generals office is fighting this case in the second circuit court of appeals!!!!!

8.a) How much of the tax payers dollars are being spent in an attempt to squash their right to free speech?

8.b) Are you or your cohorts at the A.G.’s office aware the First Amendment was considered essential to the integrity of the Republic, that the very purpose was to protect speech critical of government?

8.c) Have you seen the web site FACT (First Amendment Cyber-Tribune) which informs of Huminski’s case and what a sad state of affairs it is when a state will fight such a case rather than acknowledge the people’s right to free speech?

8.d) Why didn’t the Attorney General’s Office, during your administration, fight for the people’s right to know what is in their food when a Federal Court Judge struck down Vermont’s labeling law regarding BVH? In a country where the incidence of cancer is the highest in the world, and experts maintain the American food supply is a veritable witches brew of chemicals and carcinogens, one would think a real Doctor or Governor would advocate for his patients or constituents right to know what they might be consuming.

Most of Vermont Supported that law - Amestoy declined to appeal the decision or insist the public good be weighed against the monetary interests. It was not the first time Vermonters saw Amestoy opt for the special interests over the people’s rights or welfare.  While he was commissioner of the Dept. of Labor and Industry there was strong evidence that Amestoy’s office was giving Staco Inc. advance notice of health and safety inspections of the mercury contaminated thermometer plant. An October 26, 2022 article in the RDH (copy att.) informs, “employees had at least a day or two prior knowledge of state inspections.” Staco was finally shut down, “by the Health Dept. after inspections showed 110 workers, their families and homes, as well as the Poultney sewer system, had been contaminated with Mercury from the plant.” I wonder how Amestoy would have acted had someone in his family been exposed to Staco’s carcinogens and toxins.

A BFP article of May 12, 2022 “Amestoy’s Inaction Questioned” informs “18 months after Vermonters first learned about the dark side of Barre lawyer Joseph C. Palmisano’s business dealings, they’re still waiting for the state’s top prosecutor to dip his toe into the biggest white-collar crime case these hills have ever seen. Instead, Amestoy seems content to leave the driving in this case to U.S. Attorney and the Federal Courts...Meanwhile, in state court the scorecard reads zero criminal indictments on a plethora of basic embezzlement or larceny claims involving Big Joe...that leaves lawyers like Eric Parker a former asst. attorney general under Amestoy who represents some of Palmisano’s bigger victims, wondering what’s up... ‘Simply based on the vast sums of money stolen and the numerous victims, there appears to be no reason why this criminal’s violation of state statutes should not also give rise to state charges.’ Parker wrote Amestoy’s criminal division chief, Suzanne Young, in late March...Parker also questioned the propriety of Amestoy’s approving the hiring of a former law partner of Palmisano’s, Mike Zimmerman, as a part-time assistant attorney general last year, just after Amestoy made the decision to let the feds take the lead... ‘I am concerned that his presence as an employee of your office may have influenced the decision not to take action in connection with this case’...In a blistering set of responses by Young and, last week, Amestoy, Parker is raked over the coals for having the gall to criticize his former employer. Young called Parker’s remarks ‘unprofessional and ill advised’ Amestoy’s letter went even further, saying he was insulted that such an allegation ‘from a lawyer who served in this office and who I formerly counted as a friend...nonetheless I now have the benefit of your view of my character. I shall keep it in mind.’ And from that perspective Amestoy’s performance has hardly been reassuring.”

8.e) Chief Justice Amestoy and judge Pat Zimmerman seem to share your philosophy of retaliation and defending a status quo that allows the Vermont Bar Association and big money interests to prevail over the “Public Welfare” is that why you appointed them to their present positions ?

9.) In the civil suit contesting the validity of the Civil Unions Bill lodged in Vermont’s Washington County Superior Court, “Brady and Others v. Dean, Obuchowski, Schumlin, Sorrell” Docket # 308-5-00 filed May 24, 2022 and recently dismissed there were over twenty some odd parties signed on in opposition to you and your legislation. I know the main issue has been the fact that several legislators in the house took bets on the outcome of the pending vote and Obuchowski knew but did nothing about it.

9.a) Has anyone pointed out the potentially “chilling” effect that the Illuzzii case might have had on the legislature?

9.b) Was there any evidence from the civil suit Illuzzii initiated in Federal District court in Burlington Vt., in which he exposed, by affidavit and with witnesses, the corruption in the Vermont State Supreme court, its “Star Chamber” quality and proclivity to disregard the “Public Welfare” in deference to Fraternal Allegiance, and personal agendas?

9.c) Were the petitions and letters (from attorneys) of support for the Articles of Impeachment against the Vermont State Supreme Court ever introduced?

9.d.) I remember reading newspaper accounts that stated Justice Denise Johnson is an advocate for Gay rights and Dooley’s wife advocates for Gay rights, some would consider such an inherent bias would be grounds for conflicts of interests yet, they did not disqualify themselves from the decision; was that issue ever raised?

9.e) In an October 1, 2022 BFP article “Vermont taxpayers deserve greater accountability” (copy att.) Obuchowski charges “Amid all the confusing charges surrounding the dispute between the governor and the auditor, there is a simple...issue...Gov. Dean proposed an audit... of the treasurer’s and auditor’s offices, I agreed. When he attempted to put that audit under his direct control, it was my job to tell him no... The auditor is legally charged with reviewing whether the administration is in compliance with its own regulations, such as the requirement that contract awards be competitively bid, and whether the administration is in compliance with legislative enactments regarding spending authorized funds...There’s good reason for that. Its called separation of powers...By attempting to put control of the auditor and treasurer under his direct control rather than the Legislature’s, Gov. Dean was violating the principle of separation of powers... Also, if Gov. Dean were in charge of the audit, there would be a serious an obvious conflict of interest that would only further erode public confidence and reinforce a view the dispute was purely political...Why...did the governor’s office approve payments by the treasurer which were made in violation of the administration’s own competitive bidding guidelines? These issues are being obscured- sometimes by the auditor’s ...combative rhetoric, other times by the governor’s personal and angry outbursts...That is why I insist on an independent investigation, not controlled by any of the parties involved.” Has anyone raised the issue that Obuchowski has demonstrated his understanding of the doctrine of separation of powers and has pointed out your abuse of power yet he departed from protocol when pushing the civil unions bill through on a fast track without benefit of a summer study committee or unfettered public debate based on reason and fact, free from admonitions of what is and is not “civil”?

10.) Have you read the letter by, Oreste V. Valsangiacomo Sr., a Democrat and member of the Vermont House of Representatives (copy att.), posted on the internet Nov. 1, 2000, (as the Barre Times Argus would not print it) in which Mr. Valsangiacomo details your involvement with advancing the Homosexual agenda in this state beginning in November of 1993, “during a private meeting of 12 Democrats and several homosexuals at the home of the Chair of the State Democratic committee...this is reported by the homosexual newspaper ‘Out in the Mountains’...Dean expressed support...to solicit names for openings on more than 250 boards and commissions within the state for gays and lesbians to be appointed... Dean asked for a meeting with ‘Outright Vt.’ to discuss their work with gay and lesbian youth offering leadership...The homosexual agenda was introduced to Vermont by an article in Playboy magazine entitled “Taking Over Vermont”. This article became the blueprint for the homosexual movement in Vermont...Dean appointed Lippert a state Rep. from Hinesburg to fill a vacancy...Lippert is the founder and President of “Outright Vermont”, a homosexual organization approved by Gov. Dean to educate our school children about “diversity”. Gov. Dean has been working since 1993 with the homosexual community...”?

10.a) Which members of the Governors Commission on Women were recommended by Out right Vermont to you?

10.b) Which judges and lawyers were recommended by Outright Vermont to you for judicial and various board appointments, were Pat Zimmerman and Jeffrey Amestoy recommended or endorsed by Out right Vermont?

10.c) Which Boards did you appoint referrals from Out Right Vermont to, and who were they? I ask this as a Valley News article of April 19, 2022 “Opponents critical of Commission Lobbying,” points out, “Opponents of same-sex marriage are criticizing a governor-appointed commission for its outspoken lobbying on the civil unions bill pending...Michele Cummings, president of Take It to the People, said a March newsletter put out by the Governor’s Commission on Women showed the commission’s political bias... ‘Even before the letter came out I was concerned that the commission only represented a very narrow segment of Vermont Women’...William Shouldice III, who lobbies for Take It to the People, said he was exasperated at having to fight not only the legislature and the governor on the issue, but a government agency as well...‘funded with our tax dollars, lobbying against us...The Commission has gone out on a limb a number of times, and this is probably the most gross example of that...’ the commission receives $260,000 in state and federal funds. The governor appoints the 16 commissioners, who formulate policy on women’s issues.”

10.d) In the above referenced article (para.10c) it is noted Holly Wilson was a commission member. Would that be the wife of David Wilson one of your former administration secretaries who was implicated in all the scandals over the Hydro-Quebec contracts and CHP contracts?

10.e) In the May 19,2022 edition of the Valley news there is an add in the Help Wanted columns for a “Child Advocacy Specialist” in which lesbians are encouraged to apply to Jeri Martinez. Is she still with the Governors commission on Women and was she one of Out Right Vermont’s recommendations? I have heard her testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee where she asserted “all men are potential abusers ....” Like something out of the book, “Who stole Feminism - Women who Betrayed Women,” by Christina Hoff Sommers, the testimony your commissioners give before the legislature is blatantly misinformation, disinformation and outright false information. No doubt that is why they opposed the proposed legislation several years ago making it a crime to lie to the legislature while giving testimony.

10.d) Can you understand how the details of the above referenced letter, and in fact all the issues raised here, could be relevant to Federal civil action and a request for an investigation by the Justice Department for all the maladministrations of justice during your Blind Eye Reign? That is of course once the DemocRATS have been have extracted from the Justice Department.

Whenever I see politicians like you or President Clinton pointing your finger at the rest of America telling us we need more prisons I am reminded of the proverb, “He who points a finger has three pointing back.” We already imprison more of a percentage of our population than any other country in the world. We don’t need more prisons we need more accountability in government. To create respect for the law we must first make the law respectable. Prosecute some of the high profile crooked politicians, judges and lawyers and people will better respect the law. People know the “System” is corrupt. The result is voter apathy, cynicism, contempt, and a profusion of groups forming in direct response to the government abuses. A key word search on the Internet of “Legal Reform” will bring one to the top 5% most frequented sites on the net. Sites like “overlawyered.com”, “Legal Ethics and Reform”, “The Legal Reform Movement In America”, “People before Lawyers”, “American Family Law Association”, “JAIL 4 JUDGES”, “Lawsuit Abuse who Pays?” ..... The sheer volume of such related sites and numbers viewing those sites indicate the level of discontent and concern in the American Populace. On line petitions such as “A Modern American Declaration of Liberty” at http://PetitionOnline.com/usdeclar/petiton.html are an example of grass roots efforts to wrestle control of government back from the lawyers and special interests.

Two thirds of all the lawyers in the world live and practice in the U.S.. They dominate every branch of government and have subverted the intent of the constitution by giving themselves protections, immunities, privileges, and access to the state and federal coffers in direct violation of the U.S. constitution. Little wonder our own government is the biggest source of misinformation, disinformation, and false information. Lawyers are indeed the “Faction” we were warned of in the Federalist Papers. I only hope America will wake up and realize the sagacity of the “NO LAWYER VOTE” before it is too late.

Recommended Books ( for insight to Vermont’s Political agenda): “Who Stole Feminism - Women who Betrayed Women” by Christina Hoff Sommers.

“With Justice for None - Destroying a Great American Myth” by Gerry Spence (considered one of the best U.S. trial lawyers).

APT QUOTES FOR TODAY:  “ A threat to Justice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere.” - Martin Luther King, jr . “Justice delayed is justice denied” - William Blackstone.

Robert Kennedy had an insightful twist on that, “Justice Delayed is Democracy denied.”

“ If there were recalls on incompetent Lawyers as there are for defective automobiles, the recall rate would be phenomenal.” Former Chief Justice Warren Burger who also declared, “Half the trial lawyers in the U.S. are either incompetent, dishonest or both.”

“ American society is steadily becoming more racially and economically polarized. Many poor and minority Americans are convinced, with good reason, that the basic system of justice and law enforcement is not fair..., As was the case when racial segregation was the law, it is time for America’s legal system to reform itself. Unfortunately, reform voices are muted.” - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in a December 7, 2022 article for the N.Y. Times Special Features edition.

“If the bar is to state quite honestly the measure of its participation in public life, it must admit that law-trained persons maintain a complete monopoly over one branch of government, and a considerable effective control over the other two.” - Esther Lucile Brown.

“It is lawyers who run our civilization for us - our governments, our businesses, our private lives... We cannot buy a home or rent an apartment, we cannot get married or try to get divorced, we cannot leave our property to our children without calling on the lawyers to guide us. To guide us, incidentally, through a maze of confusing gestures and formalities that lawyers have created... The legal trade, in short is nothing but a high class racket.” - Fred Rodell, Professor of Law, Yale University.

“The number of lawyers employed by the Federal government has grown rapidly over the years and appears to be continuing to increase. Between 1954 and 1970, the number of self - employed lawyers in the U.S. increased by 19% while the number of lawyers in the Federal government increased by 108% and the number employed by state government increased by 167%.” - Richard L. Abel.

“The better the society, the less law there will be. In heaven there will be no law...In hell there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed.” - Grant Gilmore, Age of American Law.