What’s going on with public officials and their scrapes with the law?
A fascinating example comes all the way from New York, where Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley is rightfully under fire for attempting to use her position to avoid a traffic ticket. The encounter was captured on a police officer’s body camera – just another reason why these devices are so useful.
Doorley allegedly was driving 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. When an officer tried to stop her, she simply kept driving, eventually pulling into her garage a few minutes later.
Told that she was driving 20 mph over the limit, she replied: “I don’t really care.”
She flashed her badge and noted that she’s the county’s district attorney, nonchalantly adding that “I was going 55 coming home from work.”
She called the officer an expletive and declared “I’m not dealing with you right now.”
Doorley repeatedly refused to comply with the officer’s commands to come away from her vehicle and to show her license. She also called the local police chief to complain about the officer and then casually walked into her house.
Now, she’s apologizing.
“I failed you and the standards that I hold myself to. And for that, I am so sorry. What I did was wrong – no excuses. I take full responsibility for my actions,” she said in a statement to constituents.
Doorley’s is another case of “do you know who I am?” syndrome.
It happens in North Dakota, too. When state Rep. Nico Rios, R-Williston, was stopped on Dec. 15 for suspicion of DUI, he told the officers “You guys are going to regret picking on me because you don’t know who the (expletive) I am.” He threatened to make a phone call to North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley and also unleashed a string of homophobic, racially abusive, discriminatory comments at the officers. Again, thank goodness for police body cameras.
Some lawmakers don’t attempt to sway officers’ opinion with their status, but still are making news.
In Minnesota last month, state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, was arrested after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home – while allegedly dressed in black – and attempting to take items that belonged to her late father.
And now the latest: The Minnesota Reformer reported late last week that at least six current Minnesota lawmakers have been arrested for various crimes while in office, despite a passage in the Legislature’s handbook that requires lawmakers adhere to “the highest standard of ethical conduct.”
The six include Mitchell; Sen. John Jasinski, R-Faribault (DUI, 2020); Sen. Tou Ziong, DFL-Maplewood (DUI, 2022); Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook (drunk and disorderly conduct, trespassing, DUI, 2019 and 2023); Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud (DUI, 2023); and Rep. Brion Curran, DFL-White Bear Lake, DUI, 2023).
To err is human. We get that – mistakes happen. Forgiveness most certainly is not out of the question.
But trends are trends, and lawmakers and public officials must be held accountable for their legal indiscretions while serving the people. Perhaps it’s time for legislative bodies – all public-serving entities, for that matter – to revisit their rules and standards, just as a reminder of each member’s personal commitment to public service.