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Loading ...Ore. AG to investigate gay mayor’s affair with intern
01.22.2009 2:27pm EST
(Portland, Oregon) The state’s attorney general agreed Wednesday to investigate claims made by the mayor of Portland that he lied to cover up a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old boy.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams admitted this week that he lied to cover up his relationship with a teenage legislative intern because a potential mayoral candidate had spread rumors that Adams had sex with a minor.Adams, who is 45, said the teen was 17 when they met in 2005, and that the relationship did not turn sexual until the boy turned 18. He said he lied because he was afraid voters wouldn’t believe that his young lover had turned 18 before they started having sex.
Adams became mayor on New Year’s Day, making Portland the largest U.S. city with an openly gay mayor.
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger agreed to an investigation after Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk and Portland police Chief Rosie Sizer asked Kroger to look into the affair.
Also on Wednesday, three Portland newspapers and the city police union called for Adams to resign.
Adams had said he would resign if staying was not in the city’s best interest.
The publisher and editorial board of Just Out, a newspaper serves the gay and lesbian community, said in a statement that “Adams has failed to show the principled character that this publication feels is a basic requirement for an elected official.”
“Right now one of the big things we in government need is credibility with the public,” Schrunk told The Oregonian, another newspaper calling for Adams to resign. The police chief said it would be inappropriate for her department to investigate the mayor.
City commissioner Nick Fish said the commissioners met Wednesday and joined the request for an investigation by the attorney general. They decided to withhold comment until that investigation was completed.
“This is clearly a distraction, but people need to know we are getting work done,” Fish said.
Unless Adams bows to pressure and resigns or there is evidence of a crime, he will remain in office for the first half of 2009 because state law bars any mayoral recall until after six months.
I have two questions.
Where do they get off calling it an affair?
An affair traditionally, and we know how the other side likes tradition, refers to an extramarital sexual relationship.
Sam Adams is not allowed to be married. Remember that traditional thing they were talking about.
And lastly, where is Adams partner, god I hate that word, Peter Zuckerman?
Oh, good grief!!!!!! WHY is the news media and the public so interested in the private lives of others? As long as both people were of legal age and consenting, no laws were broken and its really their private business. It is a shame that the current snoopy climate is such that those involved felt forced to lie about a personal matter which never should have been become public. Get a life people—-go help stock a food pantry, give blood, donate to the Red Cross, pack a goodie bag for a soldier in Iraq, spend time talking with residents of a nursing home———-try doing SOMETHING productive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The editorial boards of The Oregonian and Portland Tribune and local gay paper Just Out are all calling for Adams resignation but many people still support the Mayor. People are quickly choosing sides on the issue of his guilt or innocence, with the progressive, liberal caucus Adams built supporting the mayor and established Portlanders calling for blood. The gay community is split down the middle, proud to have an openly gay man running a large US city but disgusted to be involved in a sex scandal.
To me the question is not a debate on the ethics of when someone is old enough to engage in sexual relations, the law is crystal clear about this fact. Rather the issue is one of the trust we place in our elected officials. Sam Adams lied about his involvement with Breedlove and then asked others to lie as well.
Is Adams being held to a higher standard? If he is it because he set the standard himself. In his 2007 Open Letter to Portlanders, Adams refers to the rumors of his relationship with Breedlove saying, ” I have been the target of a nasty smear by a would-be political opponent.” He continues that he “will not dignify the substance of this smear by repeating it – if you read the accounts you will see there is no foundation to it. The reason is simple: it is untrue.”
The letter then continues to outline some of the very real issues facing LGBT youth in our society, including suicide, homelessness and depression.
Mr. Mayor, you forgot to mention one very real pitfall, the predatory behavior of adults towards impressionable adolescents and children. I know you are aware of this issue because you are on record as using it in an attempt to draw suspicions away from your own actions. You admitted as much in an interview with The Portland Mercury, Sept. 20, 2007, “If this had come from the right wing — and it probably will now — that would have been one thing. But to come from another gay man is something more hurtful. It plays into the worst deep-seated fears society has about gay men: You can’t trust them with your young.”
We reached an incredible milestone this week in America with the election of Barrack Obama as President. We affirmed as a nation that politics of race, gender and sexual preference do not matter, only one thing does; the truth. And that Mr. Mayor is what you failed to deliver when you had the chance, and that is why I feel you should resign.
Uhm – Who cares? I care. Not about his relationship with a teenager regardless of whether he was 18 or 17, that’s their business.
What I care about is that this man doesn’t have any frekkin boundaries. An intern? Another intern? How many scandals do gay politicians have to witness before they figure out that it’s not about the age difference (that’s just the whipped topping on the story)?! Gerry Studds, Barney Frank, Mark Foley…etc. How many times do gay men in politics have to have it thrown in their face before they get it? Mr. Adams has many historical situations to look at and yet he STILL didn’t maintain professional boundaries with an intern. Someone must have told him at least once in his life: Don’t $H*T where you eat!
He didn’t listen to that little chestnut – THAT is the problem! A leader in partisan politics and in a litigious society who can’t figure THAT out – has no business being a leader!
“Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.” A quote from Doug Larson which might be appropriate for Mayor Adams’ behavior.
Like all seasoned politicians the mayor lied when he was caught with his pants down as did his young lover. Shades of Bill and Monica!
This is so stupid. The 18 year old is a man; a legal adult old enough to make decisions for himself. And what’s up with the use of the word “affair?” They were in a relationship together and they were not cheating on others, so what’s the big deal? I feel like he had to lie about this relationship to avoid this kind of BS. His relationship is his PRIVATE life, and the public needs to keep their noses elsewhere.
As a gay male I am disappointed by what has transpired. Sam Adam’s behavior just reinenforces the stereotypes of what gay people are all about. Sam Adams was someone that I thought was going to help change that negative perspective and it saddens me that the gay community and politics as usual continue to take 1 step forward 3 steps back. Thanks Sam
18 year old boy? Umm, try 18 year old MAN. He was old enough to consent to military service and go fight in Iraq … he is old enough to consent to sex. Move along, gawkers.
So the 18-year-old boy had sex with a 45-year-old boy , who cares?
Why was Adams not properly vetted as a candidate?
This kind of grossly irresponsible behavior, further compounded by the lies, plays into the blood libel about gays and children. As a lesbian I am just sick and tired of all the blowback I face because of sex scandals among gay men. Bigoted Christians (+ Jews and Muslims) may be enemy No. 1 in my fight to marry, adopt children and in general by a citizen of equal worth, but enemy No. 2 is the promiscuous, youth-obsessed culture of many gay men which drags everyone else down with it through guilt by associaltion.
I lived in Oregon for many years. I loved this state for many reasons and I still do. I love Portland for is a beacon of light in comparison to many other cities. We have great social programs, respect civil liberties, the environment, and generally care for others. We think globally and act locally.
I am living in another state but I still care for Oregon greatly. I try to act with an Oregon state of mind wherever I go. I remember seen former mayor Vera Katz and Sam Adams in gay parades and other social events. I felt close to them and I believe they care so much for our city and its citizens.
Many times I see the name of Portland, OR in the national and international news for worthy reasons. I am swept with so much joy and nostalgia at the same time. Lately, not only the national but international news have been flooded with Sam’s affair. I am sadden that he felt into temptation to do an act that has put into question his integrity and judment. However, if no laws were broken, I am in favor that he keeps his job for I believe that he has the interest of city in his heart. If he broke the law, I hope he takes the consequences of his act with valor and resignation.
To those who want to judge, be careful, for you will also be judge with the same measurement. To those who raise their leaders to god-like stature, be advised, you will be let down. Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamor in illis. Latin. All things change, and we change with them.
If we are to survive and thrive, we need to adapt.
As Gay Americans, we are sorry to see one of us, fall. Our hearts are elated when one of ours rise to prominent positions. Also, our hearts are overjoy when leaders and people in general accepts us just the way we are and treat us equally with dignity and respect. If one of us, has caused you pain and disappointment, please accept our sincere apologies and try to remember that we are after all…humans.
This is a very disconcerting personal distraction that was brought upon by the accused and the sensationalism of the item. It doesn’t measure Adams fitness for office though. However, I fear it will cause him to step down while politicians with worth sexual proclivities still remain in office. My question is the use of the word “AFFAIR” here. Is it an affair if neither man was in a serious relationship at the time and no partner was hurt? I think we need to be wary of sensationalizing this situation any further than it is through sensational word choice.
I am not going to fault Adams for what he did so long as his sexual partner was at or past age of consent. Hell I say good him you lucky SOB
Who Cares! If the guy can do the job as mayor that’s all that should matter. Sounds like just another sex witch-hunt driven by opponents. Besides the fact that his lover is of the age of consent ie: 18 notwithstanding that the age of consent in the U.S. is so arbitrary and capricious compared to the European Union.
Less Government intrusion in the consensual bedroom and less hypocracy from the gay community is in order…
If the guy can do his job and his lover is not complaining then where is the crime here????