When I first heard that our Congressman Andy Harris was bringing a young protester up on charges for recently video streaming an interview from his Salisbury office, I was shocked that Harris would go that far to prosecute. But I was not in the least surprised that Harris approved this approach. It is unapologetically cowardly.
Just as a quick primer background history about Harris and Marijuana laws, Harris tried to derail a recent DC Referendum where voters approved a ballot initiative to allow for the legal sale of Marijuana in the District. Harris has sorely angered many in DC, ( not even his jurisdiction) , and to say the least, he his not loved by either the MD Marijuana justice group, and the DC Marijuana justice group that attended the rally.
To be clear, I also have no love or affiliation with DCMJ or MDMJ, but I feel their civil rights as demonstrating citizens in a free country have been violated by our congressman ( pathetically) seeking “ sanctuary”’ from his own constituents. What could be more absurd or perverse! You can’t legally eliminate your political enemies by restricting access to government. As a public servant you must represent all sides.
When Harris’s office filed the current complaint that his office privacy had been violated , he employed an ancient ( an barely applicable) state statute that has regulated privacy in the State of Maryland to defend himself. This “wiretapping” statute is a term held over from the McCarthy Era. The use of this statute seems completely out of context to the event. The term , in an if itself, tends to incriminate the public nature of the event, as if covert evil was intended , which was not the case. Maryland’s “wiretapping” statute requires both parties must agree to be “tapped” to allow the covert information to go public. The protesters had no such agreement with the Harris office , thus the charges.
So we get to the big question, why wouldn’t an elected public official within his office expect to be in the public realm at all times? Isn’t personal privacy in a public state office an unreasonable expectation? Wasn’t this state business, and isn’t there a deliberate confusion attempting to confuse the differences between personal world and government business here? I think so.
In Maryland , the Open Meetings Act brought forth the idea that people deserve the right to see their government function. It blew open the “smoke filled “ lobbyist infested corridors of government and let the sunshine in. In many cities and towns there’s a requirement to videotape the town meetings and broadcast them publicly on a public channel to encourage open and transparent governance.
In the same way the MDMJ group felt they had a right to show others what was happening in the meeting with the Harris office. An attempt at making the meeting public is no crime. In this way , the Open Meetings act was more relevant a precedent to guide this public event than any questionable right to privacy our elected officials have conducting business in office.
What bothers me most about this is the lack of traditional protocol, 1) why didn’t Harris meet with the crowd as part of his responsibility to his constituents, 2) why didn’t Harris recognize that the MDMJ was only trying to bring others into the room with modern technology, and 3) why would Harris want to avenge a group perfectly within their rights to demonstrate, 4) Why did Harris used a completely outdated ( inapplicable) law to seek revenge on these perfectly peaceful protesters and claim personal sanctuary.
Most of all, this is a sets dangerous precedent that leaders are no longer bound to represent their constituents , can hide behind the wall of secrecy ( privacy) and continue to pretend to do public business in their own shuttered world of dark folly. A hearing for the MDMJ indictment is scheduled in Salisbury in March 22.
Jay Corvan
Trappe
J t Smith says
Due to one of the Nation’s most egregious gerrymanders, we in Delmarva are represented in Congress by a lamentable Congressman with a severely limited perspective. The matter described is typical of his approach to his office and his constituents.
Alan Wald says
The writer contradicts himself by demanding traditional protocol while at the same time encouraging mob rule.
Jay Corvan says
Nothencoyraging mob rule just free speech.
Big difference.
Alan Boisvert says
Thanks for the article Jay, very well written. What I want to know is who are the 1st District morons who reelected this coward last Fall. It’s frankly an embarrassment to live here.
Jay says
Alan. I know. It’s tough being un represented on the eastern shore. I fight this all the time. Unfortunately the mob the Harris appeals to is Still in his corner. No one has been
Able to show he’s got no clothes!
And No one has been willing to break rank
With the Gop thigs that gotbhim elected.
On theveastern shore politics is seen
As a baseball event. Which team are you for!
Don’t think Too hard about it. Just step up
To the plate and swing!
David Lloyd says
“leaders are no longer bound to represent their constituents , can hide behind the wall of secrecy ( privacy) and continue to pretend to do public business in their own shuttered world of dark folly.” Now, where do you suppose he got this idea? (Harris, that is.) He is following the lead of our president. Very, very sad and scary. In an era when so much is made/available to the public, to keep important — or even not so important — facts/details from pubic scrutiny makes no sense. Only adds to a possible dictatorship in the not-so-distant future.
Now, where will the Congressman be when he has to vote on a proposed fiscal 2020 budget this fall that will cut EPA funding for the health of the Chesapeake Bay by 90%!!! Congressman, we taxpayers/voters in St. Michaels will be watching — with and without cameras!