WW has learned from three sources that state Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), is under investigation by the FBI.
It is unclear what the investigation involves since the FBI declined to comment, as is its practice with inquiries about investigations. But Stephen Houze, one of Portland’s top criminal defense lawyers, says Johnson has retained him.
“I am representing Betsy Johnson in the investigation that is under way,” Houze wrote WW in a statement this morning. “Because it is a pending investigation, neither she nor I intend to comment on the merits of the matter. Betsy Johnson has done nothing wrong, and I am confident that a fair and unbiased investigation will vindicate her.”
Johnson, a member of the Legislature’s powerful Joint Ways and Means Committee, is a well-connected timber heiress and aviation entrepreneur who has been considered a front-runner in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial race.
In the capacity of her aviation business, Johnson’s land dealings around the Scappoose Airport were the subject of reporting in WW and The Oregonian last summer. Johnson subsequently paid a $600 fine to the state ethics commission for failing to disclose the land she owned around the Scappoose Airport, which is in her northwest Oregon district.
Johnson, who served as a commissioner with the Port of St. Helens before winning election to the Legislature in 2000, has long been a political powerhouse in Northwest Oregon. She has distributed about $500,000 annually from her family foundation to various causes.
For three decades, she also has taken particular interest in development around the Scappoose Airport. Johnson founded and ran Transwestern Aviation, a fueling business at the airport. Johnson battled Glacier Northwest over Glacier’s plans to mine a 500-acre parcel it owns east of the airport; more recently, she helped Ed Freeman, a West Linn developer, acquire hundreds of acres west of the airport. Both before and after her time on the port commission Johnson clashed with some local landowners and port employees.
WW has learned that one such recent conflict — with Port director Peter Williamson — led to a puzzling interaction last fall. On Oct. 26, Johnson, accompanied by a lawyer, Greg Chaimov of the Davis Wright Tremaine firm, went to see Ron Tammen, who is the head of the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.
At the time, Tammen was also the president of the Regional Maritime Security Coalition, a federally-funded organization charged with safeguarding Columbia River shipping trade. Williamson is on loan from the Port of St. Helen’s to the security coalition. Chaimov says Johnson had heard that Williamson might have given the coalition documents relating to her. Chaimov says he and Johnson visited Tammen to ask him for copies.
“He said he would provide the records if they existed but would need to first consult with the board of directors,” Chaimov told WW.
Tammen never turned any documents over, Chaimov says. On the following Monday, Oct. 29, Tammen abruptly resigned his post at the coalition.
“As a consequence of a meeting held in my office last Friday [with Johnson], I find myself in a serious conflict of interest situation,” states his letter. “I have concluded that decisions made on behalf of RMSC may have a negative impact on the Hatfield School of Government and decisions made on behalf of the Hatfield School could have a negative impact on RMSC. This places me in an untenable position that can only be remedied by my stepping down as President of RMSC.”
Tammen declined to comment further to WW. “I can’t discuss this topic. This is the one topic in seven years at Portland State I cannot discuss,” he says. (WW obtained his resignation letter under a public records request).
One interpretation of his letter is that Johnson, a member of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee, threatened the funding of PSU or the Hatfield School.
Chaimov says Johnson never made anything resembling a threat and he can offer no explanation for Tammen’s resignation. “I have no idea how [anything Betsy said] could have affected the Hatfield School,” Chaimov says. “His resigning was a complete surprise to me.”
Johnson was unavailable for comment.
Sen. Johnson is another of Gov. Neil’s corrupt cronies. I predict she will fall as well.
I predict that Senator Johnson will outlast this controversy. She has too many powerful friends. You can read peoples comments about Betsy on the St. Helens update’s barbs and letters. http://www.sthelensupdate.com
Maybe they are invesigating if those flying saucer glasses she wears are being used to spy on all of us.
Sen. Johnson is an ethical human being who works tirelessly for her district and for all of Oregon. The FBI are entitled to ask questions. But everyone should just take a deep breath and not jump to any conclusions. I speak for all who have faith in Betsy Johnson.
Ethical legislators do not pay fines for Ethics Law violations. They just don’t commit the violations. Betsy needs to go- now !!
Sen. Johnson’s ethics violation was grossly blown out of proportion by the media. Her report was filed about the land deal, it happened to be on the wrong year. I would encourage any person who decides to criticize Senator Johnson to look above media sources which often ommit important details. The Freedom of Information Act is for you to use. Take advantage of it! Look up the report and see for yourselves. Speaking as one of her constituents in Clatsop County, she gets things done and has amassed and maintained great bipartisan support within her electorate for working with all the parties. This is a preliminary investigation and is being blown out of proportion.
Has anyone at the WW ever bothered to delve into this Peter Williamson fellow? Any sensible person should ask what his interests are in smearing Sen. Johnson. Or perhaps the WW is only really interested in reporting the smear. Investigations are not verdicts.
"Sen. Johnson is an ethical human being who works tirelessly for her district and for all of Oregon. The FBI are entitled to ask questions."
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Same was said of Niel Goldschmidt.
"Sen. Johnson’s ethics violation was grossly blown out of proportion by the media. Her report was filed about the land deal, it happened to be on the wrong year."
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More lies from the "Friends Of Betsy" brigade. It was filed in a later year only because Betsy did not make ANY filing, until the reporters started asking her questions why she did not file. So she quickly filed only after the reporters were on to her scam.
You "Friends Of Betsy" are no friends of Oregon. You should be ashamed at defending somebody with such a lack of ethics.
"Same was said of Niel Goldschmidt."
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The old "she’s a nazi" tactic eh?
Betsy does good things for her constituents. Nuff said.
Congratulations Nigel! You have successfully showed all your readers you have zero journalistic abilities, again.
You literally have taken two facts and forced them together to try to make a story just as you did with the Brookings Airport story which left major egg on your face.
This is a bad story. This is a story full of conjecture not facts. It is also the 3rd or 4th time you have done this to Betsy Johnson.
Did she kill your dog or something?
You keep making crap up and then the truth comes out and you continue to make crap up. Your crap is clearly coming from Williamson Character. What does he have against Johnson? If the Willy Week is now the place to publicly grind axes, let me know because my neighbor is a real jerk and she has a thing or two coming her way.
Nigel you are case that proves the saying: "The best way to ruin a good reporter is to give him a pulitizer."
Well done Nigel. Thanks for giving conventional wisdom a credibility bump.
and what does your neighbor think of you, John?
"Nigel you are case that proves the saying: "The best way to ruin a good reporter is to give him a pulitizer."
Well done Nigel. Thanks for giving conventional wisdom a credibility bump."
Yes, Nigel, you are a very bad reporter. And people are still talking about how you totally messed up on that Neil Goldschmidt story. I much preferred the Oregonian story about the most most honored ex-Gov and his little mistress.
John Cantton wrote:
"If the Willy Week is now the place to publicly grind axes, let me know"
The Willy Week has been, is now, and will for the foreseeable future be the place for insecure Oregonians to publicly grind axes, execute hit pieces, and engage in tabloid journalism. Thank you.
Signed,
Burnt out hippie editor who sold out and is now balsamic vinagrette using, wine growing, canvas hat wearing bearded liberal servicing political connections with the in crowd for all they are worth.
It is so good to see the liberals adopting the Righteous Rights way of demeaning the messenger.
Nigel did nothing more than write the facts of an ongoing investigation by the FBI. For liberals this means Gestapo. Seems like the repugs used that term when so many were prosecuted for bribes. Is his a trend?
Didn’t Tammen’s group hire Williamson? Or Vice-Versa? Those two are up to their necks in trouble.
If Betsy wants to run for governor, let them sling all the mud they want at her now. It’s called "vetting." MMMM. Sound familiar? Sounds like to me, the FBI has to ask Betsy questions to get to Tammen and Williamson. All she did was to ask for photocopies of documents
Bottom line: She does her job, and does a good one. Oregon is damn lucky to have her.
She’s a smart, classy, successful business woman with a heart of gold. In the "boys-club," they don’t like that and that makes her a target.
Sure, she’s the "Queen of Push-Back", but if she was a guy, no one would think twice about her style and how she sticks up for other people and to do what’s right for her district and for Oregon. If she was a guy, she’d be called a "Champion." But since she’s a gal, well…
"It is so good to see the liberals adopting the Righteous Rights way of demeaning the messenger."
What?????
I taken on local issues around here all the time, for years, and every single time leftes do that as their number one reply.
Every discussion on every major blog show that same tactic by our progressives.
Betsy Johnson knows she is a slimy politician and should stop lying to the small town she took so blindly. Betsy and Mr. Williamson have a long history of butting heads. Pherhaps, the reason why is Betsy knew Mr. Williamson would not concede to her.
Betsy does not do a bit a good for anyone or governing body she comes in contact with. Those of you thinking that Betsy is a moral politician, must be recieving some sort of funding you need directly or indirectly from her sources.
Sorry to burst your Bestsy is a "hard worker"…"champion"…"does good things" bubble but you must not be familiar with Columbia County Politics. When Betsy helped pad her own pockets after breaking FEDERAL laws…that to me does not equal "champion" or "doing positive things".
Maybe we should all thank the FBI and Mr. Williamson for allowing the vast range of communities Betsy is innvolved with to realize we might have a dirty politician that could potentially harm our community.