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Buckingham: OSC has made no inquiries
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Posted on Nov 07 2011
Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham said yesterday that the U.S. Office of Special Counsel has not made any inquiries with him about the dinner his office hosted during which then delegate candidate Joseph Norita Camacho was present.
Saipan Tribune sent an email to Buckingham requesting for comment about U.S. Office of Special Counsel’s letter to human rights advocate Wendy Doromal dated Oct. 28, 2011. In that letter, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said that evidence suggests that Buckingham violated the Hatch Act by using the authority of his office to support a partisan political candidate.
In his reply, Buckingham noted that after the dinner there were comments critical of his activity so he immediately offered the public an apology for the “perception” created among those who were critical of the event.
“I stand by the apology. However, at no time did I ever endorse Joe Camacho—or any other candidate—for Congress,” he said.
Buckingham said he trusts the public to know the difference between making an “accusation” and having someone actually “found guilty.”
He said that when someone is accused of a violation of law, it typically begins with the police doing an “investigation.”
“If the investigation warrants a charge, it is presented to the prosecutors for review. It may be dismissed there. If the case warrants going forward, it is presented to the court to initiate a proceeding. Only then is the accused presented with clear charges—facts and law—and given a chance to respond,” Buckingham said.
He added that he will have further comments if he receives the actual letter from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
