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State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, a Democratic candidate for governor, says she doesn’t believe people will find anything objectionable in a character reference letter she wrote for a legislative attorney found guilty of possession of child pornography.
The Alma Democrat was one of about a dozen people who wrote character reference letters for David L. Lovell, a former Legislative Council attorney who was found guilty in June of five Class D felony counts of child pornography possession. Vinehout was the only sitting legislator to write in Lovell’s support.
“My mother taught me to hate the sin but not shun the sinner,” Vinehout said in an emailed statement. Her campaign spokesman said she was not available to discuss the letter by phone.
Vinehout’s letter, printed on her official state letterhead and dated Nov. 11, 2015, describes Lovell as a “hardworking, intelligent, persistent, dedicated public servant” with “extraordinary diplomatic skills.” Lovell was the Legislative Council staff member assigned to a committee she chaired for four years. Vinehout worked with him on that committee and in several other instances, during which he “went above and beyond the call of duty in his work.”
“I was shocked and disturbed when I learned of the allegations against Mr. Lovell,” Vinehout wrote in the letter. “The allegations are completely inconsistent with the skilled expert I worked with for eight years. I never observed him to engage in any behavior other than that of a dedicated professional.”
Vinehout noted that Lovell had sought counseling, “taken responsibility for his actions” and shown “deep remorse for his mistakes.” She did not — as some others who wrote letters did — offer a recommendation as to whether he should serve time in prison. …
- Vinehout 2015 Letter On Official State Senate Stationary On Behalf Of David Lovell, HERE.