So, while there is hope in the fact that Fenty is slipping in the polls, unless someone viable runs, we’re stuck with him (and Rhee too, unless by some miracle she leaves of her own accord.)

1. Rhee didn’t approach AmeriCorps ultra-right wing Inspector general. He approached her as a member of St. HOPE’s board.

According to Walpin, Rhee approached him on On June 27, 2008.

2. The Sacramento Police, federal attorneys, Republican U.S. Attorney and bipartisan AmeriCorps staff found no merit in the allegations you note here, or in Walpin’s report.

There is a difference between not prosecuting because of a lack of evidence, student intimidation, or a payoff and exoneration. Here are a few more details from Jeff Steele from DC Urban Moms and Dads:

“Charges of sexual misconduct are nothing new to Kevin Johnson. In 1995, while a member of the Phoenix Suns basketball team, a 16 year old girl alleged that Johnson had fondled her. The Phoenix police recorded a phone conversation during which Johnson apologized (while not completely agreeing with the details of the incident). The Sacramento Bee reported that it had received a proposed settlement agreement under which Johnson would have paid the girl’s family $230,000. However, Johnson was not prosecuted in the case.

In 2007, Erik Jones, a teacher at Sacramento High Charter School, told Sacramento Police that “a female student confided to him that Kevin Johnson had placed his hands on her shoulders, from the rear, and in doing so his hands ended up on the top portion of her breasts.” Jones also mentioned a second potential victim who worked for the Hood Corps. However police did not feel a crime had occurred in that instance. When Jones had first reported the allegation involving a minor to school officials, Johnson’s personal attorney, Kevin Hiestand, questioned the girl. State law required that authorities be notified immediately of such allegations, but police were not told of the incident until the interview with Jones. When the police finally interviewed the alleged victim, she recanted the story. The alleged victim had also confided in one of her friends. Both the friend and Jones said they were asked by Hiestand to alter their versions of the story. Jones subsequently resigned as a result of the handling of this case. Walpin’s referral describes this incident, but inexplicably identifies the alleged victim as an AmeriCorp member rather than a high school student. Walpin also failed to mention that the alleged victim later recanted.

The most detailed account of sexual misconduct — and the one that involved Rhee — was reported by an AmeriCorps volunteer. The alleged victim told Walpin’s investigators that Johnson had come to her apartment at about midnight in order to review grades she had been entering into a database. Johnson walked into her bedroom and laid down on the bed. The alleged victim sat on the edge of the bed to show Johnson her work and he “layed [sic] down behind me, cupping his body around mine like the letter C.” Johnson then placed his hand on her hip, and she got up and left the room. Eventually, Johnson moved from the bedroom to the living room where he slept for the night. In the morning, the alleged victim’s roommate discovered Johnson there. A few weeks later, the alleged victim “got up the courage to tell one of my supervisors” and disclosed the incident to Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez. The day after the alleged victim talked to Wong-Hernandez, Johnson approached her and apologized. Johnson’s lawyer, Heistand met with her and “basically asked me to keep quiet.” Johnson later allegedly offered her $1,000 a month until she left the program, but the alleged victim refused.

The volunteer’s story is collaborated by Wong-Hernandez who told investigators that the alleged victim had described inappropriate touching by Johnson. Wong-Hernandez reported the information to the human resources department and later learned that Heistand had contacted the alleged victim. In addition, Wong-Hernandez reported that Johnson had informed her that he had spoken with the alleged victim and “everything was okay between them”.

Wong-Hernandez was also contacted by Michelle Rhee to find out what happened between Johnson and the alleged victim. Rhee told Wong-Hernandez that “she was making this her number one priority and she would take care of the situation”. Wong-Hernandez later resigned her position and attended an exit interview with Rhee. She told Rhee that her reason for leaving was “due to St. HOPE’s handling of the incident”. Rhee reportedly documented the interview in her daily planer and thanked Wong-Hernandez for bringing the disorganization of the program to her attention.

It’s possible that this incident was the second case that Erik Jones had mentioned to police, but in which police declined to pursue charges. Since the alleged victim was not a minor, no crime would have occurred.

Walpin’s referral also includes allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with another AmeriCorps volunteer. While not described as such in the documents, this alleged victim appears to be the roommate of the woman who reported Johnson’s behavior to Wong-Hernandez. This volunteer said “Johnson brushed my leg with his hand” three times and then “flipped up the edge” of her skirt. He also is alleged to have touched her leg on another occasion and to have kissed her on her cheek, brushed up against her, and massaged her shoulders.

The alleged victim was able to confirm the bedroom incident involving Johnson and the other AmeriCorp volunteer to the extent that she found Johnson asleep on the couch of their living room. In addition, the other alleged victim had told her that Johnson had come into her room, laid on the bed and touched her. She also had been told of the offer for $1,000 a month.

For Johnson, this adds up to a lot of smoke and at least some indication of fire. There are two allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with minors — the old 1995 case and the case reported by Erik Jones which ended in a recantation. In addition, there are two cases involving AmeriCorps volunteers, one of which is heavily collaborated. However, while these incidents may have exposed Johnson to EEOC actions, they don’t seem to reach the level of criminal activities.”

1. Rhee didn’t approach AmeriCorps ultra-right wing Inspector general. He approached her as a member of St. HOPE’s board.

2. The Sacramento Police, federal attorneys, Republican U.S. Attorney and bipartisan AmeriCorps staff found no merit in the allegations you note here, or in Walpin’s report.

So start with getting the basic facts right.