What’s More Disgraceful? The Charges Or The Media Coverage?
Virgin Islands Daily News, St. Croix Office
We don’t know whose behavior is more disgraceful – those in the system who executed this debacle against Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg or the way The Virgin Islands Daily News and The Source (STT and STX) have reported it.
As events have unfolded since Donastorg turned himself in to police last Thursday on domestic violence charges, we have watched in disgust as mounting evidence has thrown the light of suspicion on those who pushed this into the courts, and have shaken our heads at the astoundingly biased (even for them) way the two major “mainstream” print media outlets have handled the information.
The charges stemmed from a police report filed by a 19-year-old St. Thomas woman recounting an incident that allegedly occurred between her and the Senator in January. In that initial report, she reportedly said that Donastorg had threatened her with a gun when she went to his home and that he assaulted her while trying to get her out of his car when he gave her a ride back to her mother’s home that same evening. Donastorg is scheduled to be formally charged and enter a plea on March 11.
Significant portions of her story have changed. But the reporting style of our “mainstreamers” has not.
Even today, when a statement issued by the accuser through her attorney clearly shows that most if not all of the information distributed by the “prosecution” was at best altered and at worst, intentionally misrepresented, there was still little balance in the way the situation was reported.
The most recent Daily News story identified the accusers’ attorney, Judith Bourne, by pointing out “she was a Donastorg supporter during the last election cycle, as evidenced by the bumper sticker on her vehicle.” Can anyone tell us why this is relevant?
And from the very beginning of this saga, including the story they ran on Tuesday, The Source has felt the need to identify the Senator as “a married father of six.” Really? Any competent journalist will tell you the required information is who, what, where, when and why – marital status is not on the list.
From the start, there were serious doubts as to the validity of these charges. Comments from the attorney who accompanied him to the police station last week told us that the accuser had already recanted and that she had revealed that she’d been offered money to falsely accuse the senator.
Every day since this story broke, more and more information has come to light that would lead any rational person to believe that Administration operatives, the Virgin Islands Police Department and Department of Justice have all been complicit in an episode that has resulted in felony charges being leveled against Donastorg -Â charges that carry a minimum sentence of eight years of incarceration were they found to be true.
In the statement issued through Bourne, the accuser, a 19-year-old woman identified only as Ms. K.E., told a story that is light years away from the sordid tale told by police officials last Friday in Donastorg’s probable cause hearing.
Since you’ve all heard the story, we’ll just summarize here. She said she was offered a $150,000 reward by Lavelle Campbell and Leslie Comissiong, both of St. Thomas, if she would file a report accusing Donastorg of assaulting her. Comissiong has reportedly denied these allegations. She went on to say that on the night in question, she had gone unannounced and uninvited the Senator’s home; that he went in to retrieve his firearm but when he realized who it was he put it at his waist and never threatened her with it; and that he did not assault her when he took her home to her mother’s house later that evening.
She stated, and police corroborated this information in the hearing last Friday, that she took issue with the information in the police report after she reviewed it, had recanted her allegations,  and had been assured that the information she challenged would be changed – but it never was – and that she got an attorney after learning of Donastorg’s arrest.
She says she was “encouraged” by Comissiong to cooperate with police and to meet with Police Commissioner Novelle Francis Jr., a meeting she said Comissiong arranged. She said she told police, specifically Det. Deborah Jack, that the written report she reviewed contained errors but that she was “rushed to sign it” and was told the errors would be corrected later. They were not.
She concluded by saying that she was “totally infatuated” with the senator, but emphasized. “I want to be clear. Adlah Donastorg did nothing wrong to me.”
For some reason, the Daily News reporter was compelled to tell us that the statement was not on letterhead, notarized or “sworn to as an affidavit would be;”  and went on to inform us that “in the realm of domestic violence cases, K.E,’s recanting is not a surprise,” – so what – are we supposed to just dismiss this?
And apparently the Daily News reporter also questioned Bourne’s ability to fairly represent the client by asking her whether her support of Donastorg in his 2006 bid for governor would “cloud her professional judgment” in this case.
Why are we surprised? These are the same media who refused to address the Mafoliegate issue after Jean Gereaux’s now infamous press release; who have chastised this same Senator for his initiative in bringing the public funds spending to light; who call those who publicly oppose the machinations of this administration through their participation in radio talk shows “thugs;”  and who criticize those who question the use of VI Lottery funds to finance trips to Rwanda on the pretense of helping the impoverished children there – including the trip of one who is prominently attached to The Source.
Yet they both present themselves as objective, unbiased arbiters of the facts – and we’re just tired of letting them get away with the façade.
The issue in this case is whether or not the charges as reported are true or false, and whether, if they are false, this Administration is complicit, through bribery and falsification, Â in bringing shame and disgrace on a political opponent for no reason other than compromising his chances to win an election. If they are true, we expect the system to deal with it.
It’s a shame that those who present themselves as legitimate members of the “fourth estate” have relinquished their responsibility to be documents of record and instead have apparently decided to be mouthpieces for what is revealing itself to be one of the most destructive governmental organizations in the Western Hemisphere.
Joseph Pulitzer must be spinning in his grave.
MsDee,
What I find disrespectful is ‘s dumb comments about anyone that doesn’t support the failing deJongh Administration or Roger Morgan. We are not stupid people and we do not like to be taken advantage of. And if you must know, I’m also from St. Croix, Freedom City Frederiksted (to the bone).
If you don’t love the VI then leave. The days of politicians trying to lead the people of the Virgin Islands down dead end streets are over. Ask John de Jongh, Jr. and Kenneth Mapp, they are definitely done!
The setting up of Senator Donastorg has awaken our people. We the people will not stand by any longer and watch our bright young courageous leader be slathered like a lamb.
Senator Donastorg has clearly demonstrated his steadfast commitment to we the people of the Virgin Islands for many years. Tell me what other politician in VI history who has had to withstand the level of cruelty while defending his people rights to be free of corruption?
You can beat and beat on Senator Donastorg until you draw his blood and broke his bones but you will never break his will to help his people.
You can slather Senator Donastorg and portray him as a monster but we the people well never abandon him because we know of his deep love for us and our territory.
The chickens are coming home to roost and the day of judgment is upon de Wolf and Mapp.
Our young courageous leader will prevail because his time has come and let no man take away what God has put in motion!
We need Bert Bryan! I say Donastorg and Bert Bryan 2010!!!!
There is no way we can go wrong.
Bert Bryan all the Way to Victory. Hear the trumpets sound!
John dEJongh threw everything he has at Donastorg including the kitchen sink. They try to strip off his skin and left his flesh raw. But God is the mighty Lord and what he has blessed no man can put assunder.
Foncie will fight on with bruises, cuts, knife wounds and gun shoot wounds. He will never give up on us. And that’s why he has my respect and vote.
You want to talk about strength and divine intervention just take one look at Donastorg. He will crawl or limp to the finish line. He has the support of the Lord and has been anointed in the cleansing blood of the Lamb.
Governor Adlah Foncie Donastorg 2010, I claim in the Name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Keep playing with God and see what happen to you and Donastorg.
Nothing can happen to me that God doesn’t allow. And if he allows it, I am fine with it because it is of his will and he has the first and last say.
It’s called having TRUE FAITH in the Almighty Lord.
Selah.
Anonymous 9:25,
You are damn out of place. How could you say that they playing with God and Donastorg will find out. People like you are the reason why the islands are in the condition they are in.
You have made my decision for me and Mapp will not get my vote because of your evil and nasty ways. Donastorg will get my vote in the primary and in November.
I will go to bed tonight praying for Donastorg and the Virgin Islands and wake up in the morning and pray for Donastorg and the Virgin Islands.
To everyone else with the faith. Hold fast because God will deliver us through all of this mess. Satan is everywhere throughot our islands but Father God is more powerful.
Keep praying and God will rid us of the evil.
Well said Anon 9:32, true faith is lacking in the territory. The none believers will bear witness to the power of the Lord when he works his wonderful wonders through Senator Donastorg.
God allows only what he wants done to his children. Sometime it is very difficult to understand why God allow his children to endure such pain and suffering. No matter what we endure in life we must always say it is well with my soul.
For the believers remember the book of Job and you will understand the road Senator Donastorg is walking. Our Lord and savior is preparing his child for a greater ministry. That ministry will be to lead his people out of the darkness created by the devil and his corrupt evil doers.
I will say to brother Vincent Frazier, greater is he that lives in you. You can only serve one God and it is time for you to follow your heart and what you know God has been seeking of you. You have been greatly chastised because of your close association to the wicked one but our Lord and savior knows your heart. Condolences goes out to you and your family for the lost of your mother.
Peace be onto everyone that read these words.
There are very few local politicians I can stomach. Foncie has long been loyal to our islands. He was the lone voice warning of the criminal activities in our private and public sectors. As a consequence, he gained powerful enemies in those who seek to exploit our home, rob our people and destroy any chance of a future. I am not fooled by this attack on Donastorg: It’s retaliation for MafolieGate and other transgressions of the DeWolf administration. Message to DeWolf: your time is up.
We CANT let the lie stand! Can someone with more privacy than me please call Ms. Torres at the Daily News and tell her that Mr. Campbell does indeed have political connections.
I was shocked that in her story she is identifying him as a V.I. Education Dept employee and a “good samaritan” with no “political connections”. 774-8772 x304
For real, dem try smear Foncie like Fixed News (fox) in Babylon ah fight against the truth and spread propaganda.
Campbell admits he contacted Leslie Commissiong about the Donastorg case! This is in today’s Daily News. What the story doesn’t do is connect the dots with either of these people and our Governor. The report makes it sound like they are just two innocents trying to help out this young lady.
We must keep up the pressure on the newspaper to tell the truth. Anyone of us could be next.
n
I would call the reporter if I could. Has anyone actually spoken to her?
Former Judge Kendell has just won his lawsuit against the Daily News.
Great news!
GO JUDGE KENDELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Leon Kendell!
If I was Shaun Pennington I would be concerned – we are watching you! When the author of The Source’s articles are “Source Staff” is that you or Jean Greaux, Jr.?
The “House of Cards” is falling!
Round 2:
http://www.visuperiorcourt.org/calendar/pdfs/JUDGE%20HOLLAR%20CIVIL.pdf
Yes! The civil court hearing Donastorg has against Jeff Prosser and J Lowe Davis (Editor of the Daily News) is set for March 19, 2010!
And we wonder why the Daily News never tells the story correctly when it involves Donastorg!
I hope J Lowe Davis has to pay Donastorg so much money in civil damage that the manipulative, wench ends up having to declare bankruptcy.