Sound Off Louisiana

Fired LSP Trooper Carl Cavalier, who revealed on the January 24, 2023 edition of Carl Nelson’s Baltimore, Maryland-based radio broadcast that one of Ronald Greene’s arresting troopers sent out a message on one of LSP’s Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) openly inquiring, “Is tonight nigger night?  Is tonight the night we go hunting for someone?”

On January 30, 2023, when we introduced “Sister Khadijah Rashad” and published her concerns about law-enforcement in Iberia Parish, we openly encouraged our subscribers and site visitors to listen to the Carl Nelson radio broadcast of January 24, 2023.

We knew that few people would do as we guided and listen to the second hour of the broadcast which featured fired LSP Trooper Carl Cavalier.  We kind of doubt that even LSP top brass bothered with tuning in to what Cavalier had to say.

That’s unfortunate because we readily revealed that Cavalier had some valuable nuggets of information that we’d not heretofore been made aware.

One such nugget is the fact that Cavalier indicated that, in the timeframe of the Ronald Greene in-custody death on May 10, 2019, one of the troopers left a damning message on the internal LSP MDT (mobile data terminal) system.  What was that alleged damning message?  According to Cavalier, it went along the lines of, “Is tonight nigger night?  Is tonight the night that we go hunting for someone?”

On Nelson’s show, Cavalier responded to a tweet sent in to Nelson from a listener with the first name of Don in which he asked if the North Louisiana LSP troopers, “viewed themselves as a gang?”  Let’s listen in on Cavalier providing his response to the inquiry by one of Nelson’s listeners (Don):

  The Carl Nelson radio broadcast of January 24, 2023.

Though we certainly knew it would be a wasted exercise in futility, beginning on January 31, 2023, we initiated a series of email exchanges entailing a public records request for the alleged entry by the trooper.

Obviously, anyone with functioning brain cells would know that hell would literally freeze over three times before LSP would hand over any such document to us.  Nevertheless, we welcome anyone to view our email exchanges by clicking here.  As is obvious from our final email to LSP, we openly invited LSP Col. Lamar Davis to either provide comment to us or to appear on camera entailing the subject matter of this feature.  He declined.

Just as we did before we first broke the Ronald Greene matter on September 10, 2020 based on compelling evidence that we had that then-Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth had turned off his body camera leading up to Greene’s arrest (which was the nature of our public records request way back then and which turned out to be spot-on with Hollingworth turning that camera off for a whopping approximate 52 minutes), we have been able to reach that same level of confidence through our sources to publish this feature now notwithstanding our exercise in futility to obtain the infamous MDT entry from LSP.

According to our sources, Sergeant Gustave (“Gus”) Bethea discovered the message on Dakota DeMoss’ computer, and it was a message he sent to another trooper openly asking, “Is this nigger night?”

Our sources further informed us that Bethea, who was a Trooper at the same time, gave the information to the FBI, and that the then-head of LSP Legal Affairs, Faye Morrison Dysart, was very upset with Bethea for providing that information to the FBI.

We were also informed that the software in 2019 being utilized on MDTs was “mobile cop,” which allows troopers to message one another.  That would be the same technology upon which we published this February 10, 2022 feature, the contents of which were replicated in publications on an international basis.  Here’s a refresher of some of the messages sent on the MDTs back then:

The troopers then escorted Harris to one of their marked police vehicles. As they placed Harris in the back seat, Tpr. Harper threatened him by saying, “stupid motherfucker, I hope you act up when we get to the fucking jail. I am going to punish you, dumb bitch. What the fuck is wrong with you, stupid motherfucker. ”

Jacob Brown “How was his attitude at the jail?”

George Harper “Complete silence”

Jacob Brown “Lmao”

Dakota DeMoss “lol he was still digesting that ass whoop in”

Jacob Brown “its gonna take him a couple days … ”

Jacob Brown “he gonna be sore tomorrow for sure”

Jacob Brown “BET he wont run from a full grown bear again”

Dakota DeMoss “Bet he don’t even cross into LA anymore”

George Harper “GRIZZLY Nah he gonna spread the word that’s for damn sure”

Jacob Brown “lmao”

Dakota DeMoss “he’s gonna have nightmares for a long time”

Jacob Brown “lmao…..warms my heart knowing we could educate that young man”

Dakota DeMoss “lolol”

Larry Shappley “haha”

We can only assume that DeMoss was a big fan of these MDT systems and the ability to rapidly communicate and make inquiry, no?

So, is it any wonder why LSP wanted (wants?) to just cram $200,000 down Cavalier’s throat and tell him to fade off into the sunset?

Speaking of that cram down effort, it sure seems to have gone eerily silent, no?  The only filing made in about a month is this February 4, 2023 Cavalier filing opposing his previous attorney, Jill Craft’s, Motion to Deem Privilege Waived.  The Motion has been referred to Judge deGravelles, but no record of any ruling has yet been made public.

Who knows?  Perhaps if an insurance company is intertwined with the Office of Risk Management in having made the decision to agree to settle the matter and fork over a $200,000 payment, maybe that insurance company may have now balked and revoked their own commitment to stroke the check!

Given all of the revelations which have come out about this whole matter (to include an extremely rare peek into the opposition’s former attorney’s — i.e. Jill Craft’s — bleak prospects entailing the likelihood of getting a larger settlement at trial), who could blame any insurance company for any such balking at this stage of the game?

Of course, that would also beg the question of why Attorney General (and candidate for Louisiana Governor), Jeff Landry, convinced any such insurance company (or taxpayers directly if no insurance company was involved) that it was in its (their) best interest to settle.  Heck, any such insurance company may be willing to deem Cavalier worthy of being the King of a Mardi Gras parade!

Let us make clear that any insurance company (assuming there even is one, but we’re willing to bet there is and we seem to have a very foggy recollection of a Tennessee-based one referenced at some point in all this, but that could just be Burns’ advancing age and/or the fact that there is just too much material on all this to readily keep it in one’s head) which has chosen to now balk at remitting the $200,000 is 100 percent, T-total speculation on our part.

Nevertheless, does anybody have a better idea why everything went so silent on the previously-hot-to-trot efforts to cram all this down Cavalier’s throat?  If so, we’re all ears!

Billy Broussard, on Friday, February 10, 2023, provides a succinct summation of his court hearing on Broussard v. LSP Trooper Scott Lopez and his son, Benjamin, which was held on Thursday, February 2, 2023 and also provides a preview of his upcoming court hearing entailing Broussard v. Mendy “Mob Boss” Girouard and Melissa Dubroc.

It wasn’t long ago that we presented this feature on Billy Broussard’s then-upcoming court hearing entailing Billy Broussard v. LSP Trooper Scott Lopez and his son, Benjamin.

In today’s feature, Broussard gives everyone a very brief recap of what transpired at that hearing and also gives a preview on the first courtroom hearing of February 15, 2023 in the matter of Billy Broussard v. Mendy “Mob Boss” Girouard and Melissa Dubroc.  Broussard, who seemed more relaxed and at-ease than for any interview we’ve conducted entailing him so far (and we’ve conducted plenty) covered everything both succinctly and with lazer focus.  Because we already discussed Broussard’s Motion to Compel Facebook posts made to “Mob Boss'” Facebook group, no focus was placed on that matter, which has been scheduled for hearing on March 9, 2023.

So, what we’re going to do is merely present Broussard’s video interview (which contains clips from videos of others to include “Mob Boss” and Blake Duborc, husband of Defendant Melissa Dubroc) along with support documents and photos Broussard references in the video.  Here’s that video interview:

2/10/23:  Broussard recaps court hearing on Broussard v. LSP Trooper Scott Lopez and son, Benjamin, and previews 2/15/23 court hearing for Broussard v. “Mob Boss” Girouard and Melissa Dubroc.  Note, the day after publication of this feature, Broussard received this Order from the Court substantiating everything that Broussard relays in the first two minutes of the above video. 

1.  10/19/22 Peremptory Exception of No Cause of Action.

2.  Video of “Mob Boss” presenting “petition,” which Broussard has asserted, among other irregularities, contains numerous forgeries (see video above) on March 2, 2022:

March 2, 2022 53-second presentation of a “petition”  by Mendy Girouard to the SMPG Council entailing Billy Broussard’s request for a zoning variance.

3.  Website for Dr. Gannon J. Watts’ counseling contact information.

As Broussard said in the video above, Dr. Watts has a ton of initials after his name!

It should also be pointed out that Broussard, on December 2, 2022, sent attorney Haik this email stating a definitive intent to depose Dr. Watts; however, as is evidenced in Haik’s response, Haik gave Broussard attitude and questioned him on why Assistant District Attorney Michael Caffery was copied on the email (for the record, Watts was also copied, as was Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns).

Perhaps this is the reason Caffery was copied on the email:

From: Michael Caffery <[email protected]>
Date: October 25, 2022 at 11:36:47 AM CDT
To: Billy Broussard <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Material Requested to Assist With Your Investigation of Potential Illegal Notary
Act(s) by Melissa Dubroc

Thank you for the email Me. Broussard. It definitely has been busy, but I’m determined to get a Motion filed on this before Thanksgiving. I apologize for the delay and feel free to contact me anytime.

Michael Caffery
Sent from my iPhone

4.  Zillow link to Dr. Watts’ home, with the Zillow estimated value of $730,000.

5.  Photos of Dr. Watts’ home from Zillow:

Dr. Gannon Watts home from the front.

Dr. Gannon Watts home from the rear.

Dr. Gannon Watts’ formal dining room at his home.

Dr. Gannon Watts’ kitchen at his home.

Dr. Gannon Watts’ living room at his home.

Bedroom for Dr. Gannon Watts’ home.

Broussard indicated that it would indeed be disheartening to learn that Dr. Watts personally signed the petition given what Broussard indicates have been extensive efforts on his (Broussard’s) property to develop his 33 acres to provide beautiful scenery for Dr. Watts vs. the overgrown, trash-filled (with hazardous materials like old tires) drug-infested property (complete with makeshift tents to house drug-addicted vagrants) which existed prior to Broussard’s acquisition of the property.

In fact, Broussard supplied current photos of his property as it abuts Dr. Watts’ property.  Here they are:

Now, we’ve provided the link for the so-called “petition” above.  Let’s focus in on the alleged signatories # 53 (there are two even though it’s counted as one — would a PhD do such and apparently have difficulty spelling his own first name? — not to mention that, for some odd reason, no last name is even provided).  Here are those alleged “signatures”:

Gee, no wonder Broussard wants to depose Dr. Watts and question him not only about the signature but also what all he may have been told that prompted (presumably) his name to be associated with the so-called “petition.”

We would note that Broussard received the personal assurance of District Attorney Duhe’ that he (Duhe’) would personally call Dr. Watts, who has a contractual relationship with Duhe’s office, and ask him if Watts did in fact sign the petition.

Additionally, Duhe’ provided the assurance that his office would submit a letter to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office indicating that Notary Melissa Dubroc is in need of remedial training regarding fundamental obligations of a Louisiana Notary given all of the glaring issues Broussard presented to Duhe’ regarding the so-called “petition.”  Broussard was also told that Duhe’s office would provide Broussard with a copy of that letter.  As of the time of this publication, Broussard indicated that he has not yet received his copy of that letter.

6.  February 9, 2023 complaint from Broussard to Sheriff Becket Breaux entailing allegations of forgeries on the so-called “petition.”  The complaint was filed based on the DIRECT guidance of District Attorney Bo Duhe.

The complaint speaks for itself, so we’re not going to highlight even a portion of its contents.  However, we will, at this time, supply the incident receipt Broussard obtained from Breaux’s office.  Here it is:

Now, as referenced on the video, Broussard’s Motion to Compel discovery of “Mob Boss'” Facebook Group posts is covered on the above link.  However, we do reproduce at this time a few of those Facebook posts which were included with that feature:

It ought to prove interesting to see just how far Dr. Watts, with all of those initials after his name, is willing to associate himself with “Mob Boss'” so-called “petition” given it would mean he’s directly associating his name with someone (Girouard) who would so brazenly state that Broussard, “has a criminal case pending against him” when there was no such criminal case whatsoever!

Further, it will be interesting to see if Dr. Watts, again with all of those initials after his name, wants to associate his name with someone so uninformed as to state that Broussard was “violating a TRO” which had been dissolved by operation of law (at Parish President Chester Cedars’ direct instruction) for approximately 120 days prior to the above post.

Perhaps Girouard has no idea what the acronym “TRO” even stands for, and it will be interesting to see what degree, if any, Dr. Watts wants his name associated with someone that deficient in intellect.

As is evidenced by the video at the top of this post, according to Broussard, Parish President Chester Cedars is now going to great lengths to disassociate himself with these fine folks, with Cedars, as stated by Broussard on the above video, even telling Broussard, “Contrary to what you may hear, I am not involved with them and don’t get involved in these types of neighborhood spats.”

We can certainly see why Cedars would state, “Contrary to what you may hear………” because, as is depicted on the video at the outset of this feature, these folks sure are throwing Cedars’ name about plenty enough indicating that Cedars told them to this, that, or the other.

Perhaps we’ll find out either from the Sheriff / DA investigation of the allegations of forgeries on that so-called “petition” and/or Broussard’s deposition of Dr. Watts as to whether he wishes to follow Cedars’ lead entailing distance between certain residents of that neighborhood or whether he in fact has their backs regarding his “signature” on that petition.

We’ll wrap this feature up with a couple of links for those who like to read legal filings.

7.  Broussard’s 10/28/22 Opposition Memorandum to Haik’s Peremptory Exception of No Cause of Action which he supplemented on 2/6/23.

8.  Broussard’s 2/6/23 Motion and Order to Reset Hearing on His Motion to Compel Facebook Posts.  Broussard has indicated that the hearing for his Motion to Compel is set for March 9, 2023.

Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) Member Eulis Simien, Jr., who wrote a letter of apology to 19th JDC Judge Don Johnson for providing false testimony at a November 3, 2022 trial of the Louisiana State Troopers Association (LSTA) v. LSPC wherein Simien falsely testified that his law firm had not made any political contributions since he became a member of the LSPC.

Sound Off Louisiana has been the only media outlet to cover the bitter court battle between the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) and the Louisiana State Troopers Association (LSTA) over whether the LSTA can engage in political activities to include making campaign contributions.

This entire battle began seven (7) years ago when several retired members of the LSTA, the most vocal of whom has been retired Lt. Leon “Bucky” Millet, filed an official complaint with the LSPC when they noticed television ads running which were paid for by the LSTA supporting the candidacy of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in his 2015 campaign.  The LSTA almost immediately terminated the memberships of the four (4) retired troopers, including Millet and another retired Captain, Jesse Scott Perry, for having filed the complaint.

While the average Louisiana citizen may feel this is small potatoes, the reality is that an enormous amount of collateral damage has transpired over that one incident of a complaint being filed.  The most notable examples of collateral damage entail former LSPC Executive Director Cathy Derbonne and former LSPC Member Calvin Braxton.  Rather than providing the whole history of what all transpired and all of the fallout in this feature, we’ll merely refer everyone to this March 9, 2021 feature which outlines the enormous tolls that action took on the lives of Derbonne and Braxton.

Millet, Braxton, and Derbonne may have all felt vindicated on January 27, 2023 when 19th JDC Judge Donald Johnson signed this Judgment drafted by the LSPC (along with written reasons for judgment) denying the LSTA’s quest for a Declaratory Judgment enabling them to engage in political activities to include making political campaign contributions.  That judgment arose from this November 3, 2022 trial wherein the LSTA and LSPC squared off.

As indicated on the title of that feature, Sound Off Louisiana‘s founder, Robert Burns, who observed the trial, credited LSPC attorney Lenore Feeney with bringing her “A Game” for that trial; however, Burns also predicted that Johnson would ultimately side with the LSTA notwithstanding the fact that Feeney’s courtroom arguments seemed far more persuasive than did the LSTAs.  Clearly, Burns has to eat crow on that prediction, but he’s only too happy to do so.

On the video for coverage of the trial on November 3, 2022, Burns indicated that there were a few surprises at trial.  The first of those surprises was the testimony of Jesse Scott Perry, who was one of the original filers of the complaint.  Perry’s testimony did substantiate that he filed the complaint; however, his testimony also revealed that he’d basically had a complete change of heart, and his sympathy for the LSTA literally was overflowing from the witness stand.  In fact, though he was an LSPC witness, his testimony was nearly entirely sympathetic to the LSTA.

Burns provided an overview of Perry’s testimony from the stand on the video of the feature linked above, and that video included an approximate 3-minute telephone interview segment with Millet wherein Millet voiced his extreme displeasure with Perry for his testimony.  We want to provide everyone with the opportunity to read any segment of that trial for themselves, so we requested and received this full transcript of that November 3, 2022 trial of LSTA v. LSPC.  At this time, let’s highlight some of Perry’s testimony, shall we?:

Q. AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR ME THE ACTIVITIES OF THE L.S.T.A. WHEN YOU WERE A MEMBER?

A. THEY WERE AN ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TROOPERS, SUPPORTED TROOPERS FAMILIES, SUPPORTED CHARITIES, AND ANY TIME OF NEED THAT A TROOPER HAD SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPEN THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE. THERE WAS ONE TIME I NEEDED LEGAL ASSISTANCE, THEY PROVIDED ME WITH LEGAL
ASSISTANCE ON A MATTER INVOLVING THE DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THEY WERE VERY USEFUL. THEY ALSO ARE VERY HELPFUL — WERE VERY HELPFUL IN CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ON BENEFITS SUCH AS MAKE-A-WISH AND GRANT-A-WISH FOUNDATIONS.

Q.  AND THAT WAS FOR SICK CHILDREN?

A.  YES, MA’AM, AND NOT ONLY JUST FOR SICK CHILDREN BUT FOR OUTSIDE OF THAT IF A TROOPER’S CHILD, SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC THAT HAPPENED, THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE.

Q.  AND SO WHY DID YOU CEASE BEING A MEMBER?

A.  I WAS REMOVED FROM THE MEMBERSHIP.

Q.  BY WHOM?

A.  I ASSUMED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I WAS NOTIFIED BY U.S. MAIL THAT I WAS NO LONGER A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Q. AND DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU WERE REMOVED?

A. I PRESUME IT WAS BECAUSE I FILED A COMPLAINT IN REGARDS TO POLITICAL ACTIVITY WITH THE STATE POLICE COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS.

Q. AND WHY DID YOU REACH OUT TO HIM?

A. I WAS SEEING (sic) TO BECOME A MEMBER AGAIN.

Q. AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE A MEMBER AGAIN?

A. ALTHOUGH I DISAGREED WITH THE ASSOCIATION ON THE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT AS WELL AS THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY CONDUCTED THE CONTRIBUTIONS, I STILL VERY MUCH BELIEVE IN THAT ASSOCIATION AND THAT HELPS TROOPERS, IT HELPS PEOPLE, IT WORKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF TROOPERS. ALTHOUGH I DISAGREED WITH THEIR POSITION ON THIS, I WORK WITH THE STATE POLICE AT MY CURRENT JOB ON A WEEKLY BASIS, SOMETIMES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT I REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT ORGANIZATION ALTHOUGH I DISAGREED WITH THE WAY SOME OF THESE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TOOK PLACE I FELT THE TIME HAS LAPSED, AND THAT IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON.

Q. AND SO WHAT DID MR. OXLEY ADVISE YOU?

A. HE ADVISED ME THAT HE WOULD LET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOW THROUGH THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS MR. JAY AUCOIN, OF MY INTENTIONS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER MR. AUCTION (sic) REACHED OUT TO ME WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS AND WE EXCHANGED CONTACT INFORMATION AND THEN COVID HAPPENED AND

Q. SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

A. SOMETIMES IN 2021, LATE 2021, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, MR. AUCOIN REACHED OUT TO ME TO SEE IF I WAS STILL INTERESTED IN SPEAKING WITH THEM ON BECOMING A MEMBER AGAIN.

Q. AND DID YOU MEET WITH THEM?

A. YES, MA’AM, I MET WITH THEM.

Q. WHO WAS IN THE MEETING?

A. TIRED (sic) LIEUTENANT COLONEL, MARK OXLEY, SECRETARY TREASURER, RODNEY HYATT, MR. AUCOIN AND MR. HACK WILLIS.

Q. AND WAS THERE ANYTHING DECIDED IN THAT MEETING?

A.  NOTHING DECIDED ON ME BECOMING A MEMBER THEN. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD TAKE ANYTHING THAT I SAID BACK TO THEIR BOARD AND THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH ME.

Q.  DID THEY SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE PENDING LITIGATION?

A.  THEY DID NOT. THEY DID NOT BRING UP ANYTHING AT THAT MEETING REGARDING THE PENDING LITIGATION.

Q.  SO DID YOU HAVE ANY CONVERSATIONS AFTER THAT?

A. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER MR. WILLIS FOLLOWED UP WITH ME JUST SAYING, LOOK, WE DID EVENTUALLY MEET AS A GROUP AND WE ARE GOING TO HONOR YOUR REQUEST ON ALLOWING YOU TO ATTEND CERTAIN FUNCTIONS AT THE TROOP LEVEL, HOWEVER, YOU BEING ACTIVE IN THE MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDING BUSINESS MEETINGS WOULD BE HELD OFF UNTIL THIS LITIGATION WAS DECIDED UPON.

Q. MEANING THIS LITIGATION, THIS CASE?

A. WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, YES, MA’AM.

Well, given the ruling, perhaps Perry may not want to rush to his mailbox to look for his new membership card anytime soon, no?

We reached out to retired Lt. Millet for comment, and he stated, “I really feel sorry for him that his need to be a member of the LSTA apparently outweighed his integrity.”

The other big surprise from the November 3, 2022 trial was LSPC Chairman Eulis Simien, Jr.,’s apparent amnesia regarding his law firm’s political contributions to Gov. Edwards and others.  We’ll reproduce at this time Millet calling for Simien and two other members to resign over the contributions:

1/10/19:  Millet reads into the record his complaint against Simien and two (2) other LSPC Members and their reactions thereafter.

Forgive us for being cynical, but we believe that, when your resignation is called for as above, and you provide an official response to the complaint, and your picture is on prominent display on the front page of a major newspaper entailing the incident, and the matter is covered by a major television outlet in New Orleans, we find it a little difficult to swallow the whole, “I forgot,” routine.

Nevertheless, six days after the trial, on November 9, 2022, Simien executed this affidavit saying that’s exactly what happened (i. e. that he “forgot” about the contributions of his law firm).  We should point out that we received anonymous emails directly accusing Simien of “perjury,” but, technically, if he really did “forget,” it would not be perjury.  Again, please pardon our cynicism about Simien’s convenient amnesia.

At any rate, Simien’s authoritative pronouncement that his firm had not made political contributions prompted the LSTA, on January 13, 2023, to file this Motion to Supplement the Record to include Simien’s testimony as part of the official court records.  The motion contains a letter of apology dated November 9, 2022 from Simien to Judge Johnson (see page three of the filing) for his inaccurate testimony.  Another nugget in the LSTA’s filing follows:

Exhibit 3 attached shows that Chairman Simien is an officer of the law firm, Simien & Simien, LLC. In addition to the contributions made by Chairman Simien’s law firm during the relevant period described above, Exhibit 2 also reflects a contribution made by Tamara Simien, Chairman Simien’s spouse, during the relevant time period. Mrs. Simien reportedly donated
$500.00 to Preston Castille on 9/17/2019.

Simien’s wife’s contribution would seem significant given that former LSPC Member William “Bill” Goldring had to resign over his wife’s $200 campaign contribution.  Although any contribution is supposed to not happen by LSPC members or their spouses, the last time we checked, $500 was considerably larger than $200.

Again, in reaching out to Millet for comment, he stated, “It’s my personal opinion that Chairman Simien has reached the height of hypocrisy.  As Chairman of the LSPC, it was and is his sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and Commission Rules and Regulations.  He has apparently violated that oath, and he failed to prevent his wife from engaging in the very same activity that caused a prior member to have to resign.  To quote T. Taylor Townsend entailing Goldring’s resignation, ‘Barring a voluntary resignation, I see no alternative but for the Governor to call a public hearing.'”

That hearing would be for the removal of Chairman Simien from the Commission.  Unlike most other Boards and Commissions, wherein members serve at the pleasure of the Governor, LSPC Members cannot be removed by the Governor except by the Governor calling a special hearing over which he presides and he makes the decision of whether the LSPC member is removed or not.

At any rate, the LSTA’s filing, in turn, prompted the LSPC, only six (6) days later, on January 19, 2023, to file this Motion to have Simien’s testimony entailing his law firm’s political contributions stricken from the record.

Given Judge Johnson’s ruling, Simien’s testimony would seem moot except for purposes of appeal, which the LSTA is guaranteed to pursue.  Accordingly, a court hearing will transpire on March 13, 2023 to resolve the issue of whether Simien’s testimony will be included or excluded from the official trial testimony of November 3, 2022.

See what all anybody can miss by counting only upon the mainstream media to stay informed?