Roth's Seattle Involvement Defending McClendon In Gay Community Revealed In Emails
Excerpted From An Article By Jim Brunner/Seattle Times ~ Despite (Aubrey)McClendon's repeated denials that relocation (of the Sonics to Oklahoma City) was always the plan, two additional potentially damaging e-mails were revealed in a transcript of his deposition released Friday.
In early 2007, McClendon predicted that a controversy over his contributions to an anti-gay marriage group would improve the chances of the Sonics moving to Oklahoma City.
Later that year, McClendon apologized to principal Sonics owner Clay Bennett for telling an Oklahoma newspaper he'd always intended to move the Sonics. But McClendon added, "the truth is we did buy it with the hope of moving to Oklahoma City," according to a copy of his e-mail read aloud during the deposition.
While no major revelations emerged during his deposition, McClendon was asked about two e-mails that previously have not been disclosed in court filings.
The first e-mail came early last year, after controversy erupted in Seattle over large political contributions made in 2004 by McClendon and (Tom) Ward to an anti-gay marriage political committee. News of the pair's political leanings didn't sit well in the Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature, which was then considering whether to fund the Sonics' Renton arena proposal.
Jim Roth, an openly gay politician in Oklahoma, offered to contact Seattle media to defend McClendon against accusations of being anti-gay.
McClendon encouraged that effort, but told Roth in an e-mail: "The reality is it just improves OKC's chances of getting them [the Sonics] here year after next."
Roth responded: "Yes, and then we all win."
Asked about that exchange, McClendon said he had been discouraged by "personal character attacks on me" and didn't think that Roth's efforts would make a difference.
In early 2007, McClendon predicted that a controversy over his contributions to an anti-gay marriage group would improve the chances of the Sonics moving to Oklahoma City.
Later that year, McClendon apologized to principal Sonics owner Clay Bennett for telling an Oklahoma newspaper he'd always intended to move the Sonics. But McClendon added, "the truth is we did buy it with the hope of moving to Oklahoma City," according to a copy of his e-mail read aloud during the deposition.
While no major revelations emerged during his deposition, McClendon was asked about two e-mails that previously have not been disclosed in court filings.
The first e-mail came early last year, after controversy erupted in Seattle over large political contributions made in 2004 by McClendon and (Tom) Ward to an anti-gay marriage political committee. News of the pair's political leanings didn't sit well in the Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature, which was then considering whether to fund the Sonics' Renton arena proposal.
Jim Roth, an openly gay politician in Oklahoma, offered to contact Seattle media to defend McClendon against accusations of being anti-gay.
McClendon encouraged that effort, but told Roth in an e-mail: "The reality is it just improves OKC's chances of getting them [the Sonics] here year after next."
Roth responded: "Yes, and then we all win."
Asked about that exchange, McClendon said he had been discouraged by "personal character attacks on me" and didn't think that Roth's efforts would make a difference.
Labels: Aubrey McClendon, Jim Roth, Tom Ward
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:49 AM
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