Lawyer Letters Fly In Holland Attack Episode

Letters from lawyers are flying today as part of the attack on Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, launched last week by an Austin, Texas entity.

The McCarville Report Online obtained a copy of a letter, sent in response to a "cease and desist" letter sent by a prominent state law firm, that defends television commercials obviously aimed at Holland but not mentioning her by name.

The letter, from the Washington law firm Patton Boggs and signed by attorney Benjamin L. Ginsberg, says it was written "in response to the puzzling letter you received from Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewison" last Friday as the commercials began to appear. Ginsberg argues that the commercials are not an "electioneering communication" as defined by Oklahoma law.

Ginsberg writes that the commercial falls under protection of the First Amendment to free speech and "should not fall victim to her bullying."

Attorney Richard Mildren wrote the letter on behalf of Holland. In his letter to the television stations, he argued that "Just The Facts America" is not registered as a political entity in Oklahoma and its product is an "inaccurate and inappropriate political commercial."

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