GORMAN CAMP: HE WAS "TICKETED," NOT "CONVICTED."

9/29/2008

UPDATED 12:16 PM

Fourth district congressional candidate Chris Gorman is catching heat for an alleged "criminal conviction" from opponents. A Shreveport publication called "The Inquisitor" ran a cover with Gorman's campaign photo, along with the caption that reads "Busted Stealing Golf Balls."

"The Inquisitor." reported that Gorman was convicted of criminal trespass in 1988 , and was sentenced to either serve time in jail on the charge of 20 days or pay court costs.

But the Gorman camp insists that he was NOT convicted- just ticketed.

Stealing golf balls and criminal tress pass twenty years ago triggered fiery words from Gorman's opponent Dr. John Fleming, who accused him of trying to "run with a criminal record."

"Could you imagine what the democrat candidate and former District Attorney could do to exploit a weak republican candidate like Chris Gorman running with a criminal record?" said Dr. John Fleming in a statement released by his campaign.

"This is a serious problem that all republican voters need to carefully consider. Not only has Chris Gorman once again hidden his past unsuccessfully, but this time he is willing to put the entire congressional seat at risk. A former DA candidate would eat him alive in a run off on the issue of a criminal conviction alone. This would give the Democrats a huge advantage if we somehow send our weakest candidate to the run off," Fleming added.

GORMAN: FLEMING WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO WIN AN ELECTION

“It’s clear that lying John Fleming will stop at nothing to win an election. His smear team has teamed up with a supermarket tabloid in an attempt to play catch-up in the waning days of this race. The fact is I was NOT arrested for stealing golf balls. Twenty years ago with a group of friends I went swimming in a golf course pond when I should not have. I was issued a ticket for trespassing and paid a $200 fine for it – nothing more, nothing less.

This is now the FOURTH time John Fleming has been caught lying. He was caught lying in a radio ad claiming to be the only military veteran in the race. He was caught lying about my birth certificate – saying that I only just moved to Louisiana – when I’ve lived in the district longer than he has. He was caught lying about my attending the Harvard Executive MBA Program – even after I produced proof of my attendance. And, now, he has been caught lying by promoting this misleading tabloid story headline.

We need more leaders in Congress. We have enough liars, though I’m sure that’s a Washington club he would fit in with very well.”

END