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| Anthony Gemma on his way to
announce … unsubstantiated allegations. (Photo by Bob Plain) |
After all that hype, there was nothing particularly
game-changing about Anthony Gemma’s announcement that he found some people
willing to accuse his political opponent of voter fraud. There wasn’t even
anything substantiated.
I would imagine most candidates could dig up similar
accusations regardless of whom their opposition is. The difference is most know
not to stake their entire candidacy on unsubstantiated allegations. Gemma,
though, seemingly doesn’t even realize he’s doing that! Either that or he doesn’t
mind blatantly lying to the people’s faces.
“I’ll close my remarks today by answering before it’s
asked what I suspect will be your first question,” he said according to a
transcript of his remarks. “In my opinion, have I presented today smoking gun evidence
that David Cicilline has committed criminal acts relating to voter fraud? My
answer, based upon the results to date of the ongoing TPS investigation is a
resound yes.”
His smoking gun? He presented what he called “sworn
testimony” from five individuals. By sworn testimony what he meant was
something someone told a lawyer. I’m pretty certain in most people’s minds
telling a lawyer something, even under oath, is a far cry from a smoking gun.
Gemma said he has known about the allegations since 2010,
but was unable to come up with a coherent reason for why he waited two years to
disclose them. Keep in mind, the primary between he and Cicilline is 20 days
away.
Gemma also said this wasn’t about his campaign but was
about protecting the process. But again, he was unable to come up with a
coherent reason why he didn’t respect the wishes of law enforcement and wait
until the investigation played out – as he admitted they asked him to do.
Again, remember, 20 days until the primary.
And despite defying authorities, he had the nerve to say,
“I am obliged by conscience to protect the integrity of ongoing criminal
investigations being conducted and/or contemplated by federal and state law
enforcement authorities.”
What? He didn’t respect the integrity of anything! Not
any potential criminal investigation and certainly not the electoral
process. Did you pick up on the word “contemplated” in that statement.
Not even Gemma will confirm that an investigation is ongoing.
Even his fellow Democrats – though there is hardly any
more evidence that Gemma is a Democrat than there is that he has uncovered any
real evidence of actual voter fraud – are imploring him to give up the
gamesmanship.
“In short, Mr. Gemma’s approach to this matter has been
highly irresponsible,” said Edwin Pacheco, head of the state Democrats. “This
race is too important. I am calling on Mr. Gemma to return to the issues and
put the theatrics aside. In his own words, he has stated that law enforcement
authorities have asked him not to discuss this matter. Instead, for his own
political gain, Mr. Gemma is attempting to tear down Congressman Cicilline by
linking him to these accusations. A link he was unable to make. As an
attorney, Mr. Gemma should know it is highly irresponsible to cast unsubstantiated
accusations without providing supporting documentation. The voters of Rhode
Island deserve more than campaign antics, they deserve solutions to the real
problems they are facing every day.”
In short, the only way Gemmapalooza will change the game
is that he probably lost whatever shred of credibility he has left.
All this isn’t to say that nothing will come of Gemma’s
broad accusations, and I very much look forward to following all the fallout
from today’s events. But nothing that happened today would indicate it will be
tied to David Cicilline, and everything indicates that Gemma is a rogue actor
and loose cannon who should never be elected to so much as a neighborhood
association, never mind Congress.
Bob Plain is the editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's
worked as a reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode
Island and across the country.
