Gee, I Hope John Shadegg Isn't Planning On Suing Me After He Loses His Congressional Seat In 2 Weeks!

There's a report in today's Politico about John Shadegg that has me a little worried:

Rep. John Shadegg has shelled out $19,698.03  in legal and research fees to a white-shoe Washington law firm to pursue an unspecified libel and slander case, according to a spokesperson for the seven-term conservative Republican from Phoenix.

The white shoe firm is Sidley Austin on K Street. A Shadegg spokesperson would only say "The congressman is considering taking legal action against a party. It has to do with libel and slander." Earlier this year DWT reproduced a page from John L. Jackley's book Below The Beltway. Sidley Austin was all over me, threatening to sue if I didn't take it down. Eventually and very reluctantly-- and after friends of mine at the ACLU and People For the American Way said I had to-- I did.

Page 102 of the book is about how straight arrow Christian Coalition Republican Jon Christensen of Nebraska caught Shadegg, a raging hypocrite, boinking his wife in their marital bed. Ms. Christensen had a reputation in DC for being kind of loose. Fist fights and recriminations followed, according to the book, which can still be purchased. But Sidley Austin contends that they obtained affidavits from Christensen, from Jackley and from right-wing vanity press publisher, Regnery. I laughed and asked them to get me in touch with Mrs. Christensen but they basically said that if I didn't take the post down, they would drag me into court. I never could find Mrs. Christensen, long divorced from the ex-congressman, but rumors abound that she refuses to contradict the story.

I don't know if the story is true or false, I do know that Shadegg has a powerful law firm that jumps on anyone and everyone who writes about the incident. I've gone over the affidavits and they look legitimate from a legalistic point of view. Personally, I don't believe any of them.



A thorough discussion of Shadegg's myriad ethics problems is what is called for-- something he has always been able to head off at the pass.