'Aggressive' camera crew confronts Hinesburg rep
Toolbox
By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau - Published: May 13, 2007
MONTPELIER – A confrontation between a TV news camera crew and lawmakers started a long day off to a tense start Saturday.
Rep. William Lippert, D-Hinesburg, was eating oatmeal in the Statehouse cafeteria a little after 8 a.m. when members of a camera crew, who bystanders said were from the Fox News program "The O'Reilly Factor," arrived and began questioning Lippert about why the House had passed a transgender anti-discrimination bill and had not passed a "Jessica's Law" that would require 25-year sentences for some sex offenders.
Lippert, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, described the news crew as "highly aggressive." Lawmakers sitting nearby rallied to his side, and a confrontation with the camera crew ensued for several minutes, Lippert and others recalled later.
"I was frankly stunned," Lippert said. "It was like being ambushed."
To sustained standing applause, Speaker of the House Gaye Symington spoke from the floor of the House about the incident, in which the television crew deliberately misconstrued Vermont's laws around sex offenders, she said.
"The tactics employed by the producers of this television program are unacceptable and have no place in this Statehouse or in Vermont politics," Symington said. "I stand with my colleague from Hinesburg and in defense of Vermont's tradition of civil political discussion and debate."
The irony, Lippert said, is that the preceding day the Legislature had passed a measure that would toughen the state's laws dealing with incarcerated sex offenders. Under the new provision, those "high risk" offenders who will reach their maximum sentences without going through treatment programs will be under strict requirements to register with authorities. If they violate those requirements they could be put in prison for as long as life.
"We have some of the most comprehensive and stringent sex offender laws in the country," said Lippert.
When that bill was passed this week – as an addition to tougher sex offender sentencing laws passed last year – he hoped it would end "lies and distortions" about the state's criminal code, Lippert said.
Fox News host Bill O'Reilly singled out Lippert in a recent segment on the Vermont Legislature's decision not to pass a Jessica's Law. The state now has five-year mandatory minimums; some sex offenders will face life sentences under changes in statute made in recent years.
"Well, I mean, it's being blocked up there by one guy. Right? Jessica's Law? Bill Lippert?" O'Reilly said, according to a transcript of the show. "He's the guy. House Judiciary Chair, Democrat, Bill Lippert refuses like they did in Maryland. And now we probably have to pay this guy a visit. Refuses to introduce it. Corrupt guy, no question. Let the people vote, Mr. Lippert. That's what you are there for. Not to block the law."
Lippert said he believes he is the focus of attention on O'Reilly's show not only because he is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, but also because he is gay.
Steve Adams, R-Hartland, minority leader, said has not completely decided if a "Jessica's Law" is needed in Vermont, but added that the legislation passed last year and this year protects the public.
"I think the bills we did last year and the bill we did yesterday certainly protects the public from violent sexual predators," Adams said.
Adams saw part of the confrontation in the cafeteria, in which lawmakers yelled at the camera crew to go home, he said.
Adams described the incident as an attack and said it was unnecessary.
"I was completely taken aback," he said. "I'm used to the Vermont media."
Sen. James Condos, D-Chittenden, called the incident "extreme verbal abuse" against Lippert.
"I don't think O'Reilly cares about the truth, I don't think O'Reilly would know the truth if it hit him in the face," Condos said.
Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that comparing "Jessica's Laws" in other states to Vermont's statutes is not a real comparison. That is because Vermont's laws are tougher in some ways than Florida's, where Jessicas's Law originated, and sex offender laws in each state are unique.
And such mandatory minimums can result in more cases going to trial and fewer offenders going to prison because it is tougher to get a conviction in court than in a plea bargain, lawmakers said.
40