Matt Wingard and the truth have parted ways.
Carla Axtman
June 13, 2012: Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian:
Wingard told Willamette Week, which first reported the allegations, that the two had a consensual relationship that did not involve the workplace. He denied drugging her or providing alcohol to minors. He remains a co-chair of the House Education Committee.
June 21, 2012: Harry Esteve, The Oregonian:
Meanwhile, another witness has come forward to corroborate Berrier's story that Wingard provided her with beer despite knowing she was underage, and that he also hosted a party at which at least one high school student drank alcohol.
Tyler Hill, a one-time House candidate who interned for Rep. Kevin Cameron, R-Salem, in 2009, said in an interview with The Oregonian that he saw Wingard procure a beer for Berrier at the Dorchester Conference -- an annual Republican gathering -- in March 2010. Hill also said he was at a party at Wingard's rental that weekend where he saw minors drinking beer.
"I know for sure he bought her a beer at the Shilo (Inn)," Hill said. If he didn't buy it personally, he had an aide buy it, Hill said. "I was sitting at the table when they went up to get it." Later in the evening, he said, Berrier was clearly drunk and exchanging text messages with Wingard.
Oh, and by the way, there's also another young woman who was ready to step forward, but was scared off by the treatment that Berrier was receiving--specifically Wingard's litigious posture:
Berrier, who was a 20-year-old legislative aide in 2010 when she started working for Wingard was accompanied by her lawyer, Ross Day. Day said he knows of a second woman who had a similar experience with Wingard, R-Wilsonville, when she was a 19-year-old intern.
"There is one other woman who has come forward, who wanted to speak and decided not to and has a story similar to Samantha's," Day said. He said she backed off after hearing about Wingard's threat to sue Berrier. Day did not reveal her name or any details.
Amazing how just two weeks ago, Wingard was a "rising star" in the GOP firmament.
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9:45 p.m.
Jun 21, '12
"... Wingard procure a beer for Berrier at the Dorchester Conference..." Isn't there any legal oversight of alcohol being served to minors at the Republican party?
11:03 p.m.
Jun 21, '12
Hey, big ups to Ross Day, maybe after all these years my favorite right winger in Oregon politics. IIRC he also represented the boys in their suit against the NW Boy Scouts region and I think even LDS. He does NOT like sleazy RepublIcans; I have first hand acquaintance with what he thinks and does about it.
9:18 a.m.
Jun 22, '12
Ross Day- number one enemy of land use planning in Oregon. Glad to see he does something good in his life.
9:27 a.m.
Jun 22, '12
Oh, no question--his politics and mine are very different. But there used to be a time when you could evaluate someone's personal character without involving their political ideology. These days it's harder, particularly among some groups. But Ross isn't like that.
1:18 p.m.
Jun 22, '12
My parents always taught me, if you are going to do something, be the best!
Have a great weekend everyone