County Judge to Sue Bee-Picayune

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Oct. 27, 2006 Letter - via email:

Bee County Judge Jimmy Martinez To Sue Beeville Bee Picayune For Falsehood

For years the Beeville Bee Picayune has attacked and harassed minority public servants who have been elected to various offices in Beeville and Bee County. This pattern of harassment and attacks crossed the line on Friday, October 27, 2006. In recent articles published by the Beeville Bee Picayune the local newspaper knowingly and recklessly printed material falsehoods about Bee County Judge Jimmy Martinez who is the Democratic candidate up for reelection in the November 7, 2006 General election.

While the Beeville Bee Picayune is known for the slanted one-sided stories it prints, and which is protected under the first amendment, it can not knowingly or recklessly print material falsehoods. “This is exactly what they have done,” states Bee County Judge Jimmy Martinez. “I emphatically deny that I have ever taken a bribe, or gift for political or personal gain.”

Friday’s article is just the latest and perhaps the most serious example of misrepresentations of facts and the telling of half-truths, and he believes that the paper’s repeated presentation of “facts” in such a slanted manner has crossed not only the boundaries of journalistic integrity, ethics and professionalism, it also is actionable.

Judge Martinez is further consulting counsel to see if Friday’s article does not actually constitute free advertising for the benefit of his opponent and a political contribution to his opponent by a corporation. If so, the Bee Picayune’s actions may constitute a felony and Judge Martinez will request the appropriate authorities to investigate further.

Attorneys for Judge Martinez will be filing a lawsuit in the Bee County District Clerk’s Office.

JIMMY MARTINEZ
Bee County Judge