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JEAN CURTISS/MISSOULA CO COMMISSIONER "This community has lost faith in your office,
partly because of your posture, partly because of the DOJ report. So I would encourage you
to take time to review those allegations and work with the AG's office."
And with that opening statement, Van Valkenburg spent nearly an hour defending the county's
position, and specifically the claims of the DOJ letter.
Commissioners Michele Landquist was especially concerned about another letter exchange 2-years
ago the DOJ and then-Attorney General Steve Bullock, indicating the Feds would report
any problems they found in their investigation. She said if she'd known about it, she wouldn't
have voted to spend money on a lawsuit challenging DOJ's authority...
MICHELE LANDQUIST/MISSOULA CO COMMISSIONER "The thing that's gotten lost in this is making
sure the responsible thing is getting done when it comes to representing victims and
prosecuting the criminals."
FRED VAN VALKENBURG/MISSOULA CO ATTY "I don't think that I misled you, or tried
to mislead you."
Van Valkenburg then went on to complain the DOJ hadn't given specific instances in its
claims. .. VAN VALKENBURG
"It is amazing, if they think we're as bad as they claim we are that they have no cases.
They have no evidence over the course of a year and a half to even give to the attorney
general."
And Van Valkenburg was emphatic defending his staff...
VAN VALKENBURG "No one in our office treats victims inappropriately.
We don't work that way. We do not treat people inappropriately. We don't treat these are
low priority cases. We never will."
BILL CAREY/MISSOULA CO COMMISSIONER "I think we have a responsibility to take
a principled stand. You're doing the right thing."
The DOJ has until early April to respond to the county's lawsuit.