Scott denies Dems' claims of harassment

BONNERS FERRY — Idaho Rep. Heather Scott is rejecting claims she directed her supporters to harass or intimidate anyone in either Bonner or Boundary counties, or that the harassment took place.

“I would like to believe that none of my supporters would stalk, harass or instigate any confrontation,” Scott said. “I do not condone such behavior and I certainly would not direct anyone to do so. I spend the majority of my time educating people on the issues so that they can defend their rights in a logical, educated, and non-aggressive manner.”

Her statement comes in the wake of a complaint filed with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office by the Idaho Democratic Party claiming that Scott’s supporters stalked and harassed a 21-year-old field organizer. The party also maintains Scott is overtly intimidate voters by calling on her supporters to identify Democrats and moderate Republicans voting on the GOP ticket, pointing to a statement that Scott made in an email to her supporters.

In the campaign email, Scott reportedly states: “If you see a Democrat sign go up in your neighborhood, please write down the house number and street name. We are trying to figure out which “Republicans” may really be Democrats in disguise on the voter logs.”

In requesting an investigation, Democratic Party Chairman Bert Marley said the “threatening conduct of the group” in both counties “presents serious questions of illegal interference with the right to vote.”

“That her supporters enforce her directives while at the same time enjoying their rights to pack pistols on their hips is more intimidation,” Marley said.

Party spokesman Dean Ferguson said that the alleged Bonner County incidents of stalking and harassment are directly related to Scott’s email, saying that her statement in the email is proof that she is directing her supporters to stalk and harass individuals in both counties, by compiling what he refers to as an “enemies list.”

Scott disputed the claims of harassment, saying the email is merely an effort to clean up the party’s mailing list.

“The Republican Party updates their mailing and voter registration list in this manner,” she told The Herald. “When we see a Democratic sign go up in the yard of someone who, in the past, has been on our mailing list, we make note of that address so that we can remove them from our mailing and door-knocking list.”

Ferguson said the unnamed field organizer was removed from both Bonner and Boundary counties because the Democratic Party did not believe their concerns were taken seriously enough.

“We encouraged our field organizer to report the incidents with the authorities so that it was on record,” Ferguson said.

Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said his office is taking allegations of intimidation and harassment of an Idaho Democratic party campaign organizer seriously.

In a statement, Wheeler said the deputy who spoke with the worker assured him that Sandpoint was an accepting community, adding his wife is a Democrat and has never received any negativity when expressing her views.

The deputy also explained Idaho laws regarding stalking, trespassing and malicious harassment. While the deputy took the worker’s statements, another deputy searched the area while another took the worker’s statements, Wheeler said. In addition, a request for extra patrols was also sent out to all shifts and regular prowler checks were made in the area.

In a statement about the allegations, Scott said that it cannot be confirm whether or not the alleged incidents were fabricated or exaggerated.

“The police report states that the alleged harassers were wearing Heather Scott campaign regalia, such as hats, T-shirts and buttons — We don’t even have campaign buttons,” she sad.

“We cannot confirm whether or not the alleged harassers were Heather Scott supporters or paid Democrat agitators; nor can we confirm whether or not the field organizer wasn’t the instigator in the alleged confrontations,” Scott added. “All we have is the word of a 21-year-old, anonymous, paid, Democratic field organizer who won’t even come forward.

“We have no suspects, no arrests and no witnesses.”

According to Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane, the office has received the request for an investigation, but has not released a public statement at this time.