Brown takes shot at paper over report

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Office of Ethics & Rules Executive Director Virgil Brown was dismayed and outraged by a pair of stories published in the Navajo Times Thursday.

The main story dealt with an ethics complaint filed against Brown by attorney Katherine LeBlanc. representing Families and Children Together, a group of Tohajiilee residents who claim Brown and his investigators wouldn't file an ethics complaint against chapter officials that FACT accused of financial improprieties.

But from that story came a sidebar that shot point-blank at Brown's personal life allegations of a May domestic violence arrest on US 491 from Gallup to Window Rock. People who have their complaints dismissed sometimes do hurl insults at him, or claim he bungled or stonewalled their claims, Brown said. From a professional standpoint he accepts that and moves on, he said. But, to delve into his private life is reprehensible, Brown said.

"The personal attack stems from their failure to get their way," Brown said. Brown said the reporter veteran journalist Marley Shabala did a poor job of getting the facts right. "Why write about people's personal business? What does my private life have to do with anything?"

For her piece, Shabala reported that she did attempt to contact Brown, but was unsuccessful in arranging a meeting with him. Brown said he no longer talks to Shabala because of past "unprofessionalism" on her part.

"To me, she's an unethical reporter," he said.

Admitting that he was stopped, Brown disputed other "facts" in the Times' story. He said, for example, Shabala reported that he was stopped by Navajo police, while it was really by the State Police, Brown said. But police who pulled him over had the wrong license plate number from the cell phone call made by a passing motorist, who claimed to have witnessed the assault.

Brown denies the domestic abuse allegations.

"No complaint was filed, to this day; nor I have gone before a court or a judge for this alleged offense," Brown said.

As a public official, being criticized for his professional actions comes with the territory, Brown said. But why would anyone "stoop so low" to drag a person's private life through the mud, he asked?

"The Navajo Times should call itself the 'Gossip Times'," Brown said.

Instead of looking for sensationalistic stories, why doesn't the Navajo Times tell about the good things happening on the reservation, focus more on the success stories, Brown wondered. "How would Navajo Times staff feel if their personal business was reported in the paper?," Brown asked. "I don't think they would."

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at hopkins1960@hotmail.com or by calling 505-371-5443.