“As Senators continue to ignore the 5,000 pound Badger in the room, they are sticking themselves to the same tar baby Panetta has. Citizens are getting more suspicious as to their true motives,” says Forte.

Forte has consumed himself with public records and an investigative gumption over the past seven years looking into an abuse of public official power by Leon Panetta in his own hometown/county bipartisan cronies. Forte claims Panetta got the Monterey Herald, some judges, attorneys and members of the District Attorney’s Office to look the other way as Panetta’s son’s law firm, Fenton & Keller, allegedly fixed a real estate case.

“This is the guy we trust with our national intelligence? A guy who won’t even look into an abuse of public official corruption in his own state,” inquires Forte. “We’re setting a dangerous precedent as other countries around the world are watching this confirmation hearing.”

Forte says it is clear the senators are holding Leon Panetta to a different standard than the average citizen.  He points to the recent failed nomination of Tom Daschle to head the Health and Human Services department. 

“President Obama said Daschle’s failure to pay taxes should be punished just as anyone else…yet, here we have Leon Panetta who chose not to file paperwork on time and defends nepotism in the face of a blatant abuse of public official power,” says Forte. “Any other citizen would never have made it to the final interview, given the same circumstances.”

Forte believes any reasonable person can see this as an open and shut case. His experience as an executive recruiter for major companies gives him unique insight into the interview process. He says he never once left any stone unturned and if something didn’t look right at any point, he would bring it to the attention of decision-makers. 

“For the same reasons any president of a company must do his or her due-diligence before making an executive-level hire, President Obama and his team of senators responsible for the confirmation of Leon Panetta need to review my investigative material and start asking the tough questions in front of the American people,” proclaims Forte.

Despite his own published reports, which have been sent to Diane Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and others on the Hill, Forte says no one has been paying attention to the truth.

“I do believe the president and members of congress are well aware of the information and evidence I possess but they know it would lead to a tumbling house of cards for the California judicial and governmental system if spoken about so they’re ignoring it,” says Forte.  “They want to divert attention away from the matter which would cause public officials to be held accountable for their embarrassing actions.

Forte believes the media, specifically MediaNews Group’s Monterey Herald, has been directly influenced by the cronies of Leon Panetta, who is a columnist for the paper.

“If they won’t report it, I will,” Forte says with authority. “The Badger Flats Gazette remains committed to enlightening the public about Leon Panetta and any other government official who is trying to hide something. Rest assured, Big Badger is watching.”

Forte even points to a column written by Leon Panetta last summer in the Monterey Herald, which justifies his cause (http://www.montereyherald.com/leonpanetta/ci_9868582). In it, Panetta concludes, “Whether we like it or not, the destiny of the nation may now rest more with its citizen soldiers than with its generals.”

“It’s clear we can’t depend on the leaders of this country to ask the right questions and completely vet an appointee, so that leaves the citizenry two choices: Stand up and yell or sit down quietly and accept it,” says Forte. “I’m standing up and this is me yelling…‘Prove me crazy or prove me wrong!’”

About The Badger Flats Gazette:  The Badger Flats Gazette, a paper dedicated to taking on public official corruption.  It always comes out when the Good ol' Boys least expect it, and discusses issues such as unethical attorneys, unscrupulous public officials and other unsavory types skimming money off the top of projects intended for the public good.

Contact:
Justin Herndon, The Publicity Agency
Email:  justin@thepublicityagency.com
Phone: (888) 399-5534 x 803 or cell:  (813) 528-6815
Web site: www.badgerflats.com

Glenn Selig, The Publicity Agency
Email:  glenn@thepublicityagency.com
Phone:  (888) 399-5534 x 801 or cell: (813) 300-5454
Web site:  www.badgerflats.com