The documents released by the AGO pursuant to the Open Government Act request filed by the Committee to Elect Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan also quoted Frieda Demapan as saying that her boss, Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham, wanted a successful event for the “Friends for Joe Camacho.”
Former Rep. Joseph N. Camacho is the ruling Covenant Party’s candidate for congressional delegate.
Assistant Attorney General Maeghan Hassel-Shearer, who was recently designated by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to oversee the November election upon Buckingham’s recommendation , confirmed she would attend the event held at the governor’s residence on Aug. 28, based on the documents from the AGO.
The Variety, however, could not confirm if Hassel-Shearer did show up for the gathering.
In her e-mail to Demapan, AGO administrative officer Tina Sakisat said: “I started my invite by informing employees that it is an office get together that the AG is hosting and that Joe Camacho would like to stop by and join us. I informed them that they are not obligated to go but it would be nice to have all of us gather. After asking [four] attorneys who asked if [it] was a political function, I threw out the Joe Camacho part and just said it was an office party!”
Two days before the gathering, Sakisat informed “Auntie Frieda” that 24 AGO staffers and prosecutors, together with their guests, had confirmed they were attending the event.
In her e-mail to Thomas J. Camacho, who was helping organize the event, Demapan said: “Time is of the essence and with very little resources, we need to stretch and do everything positive to make this a successful event for the ‘Friends for Joe Camacho.’ That is what the AG really wanted.”
After the Variety ran its story titled “Executive Assistant may be AG’s ‘Fall Guy,’ Buckingham e-mailed Demapan: “I want you to know that I will not have you or anyone be a ‘fall guy’ for me. So the record is clear.”
Buckingham added: “You did not initiate the event. You, at my request, contacted the people to ensure that they knew the event was voluntary.”
In an earlier e-mail to the AG, Demapan expressed her “frustration” with the Joe Camacho campaign’s Facebook account, which announced the “meet and greet” gathering to be hosted by Buckingham.
“I hope they don’t put this in the newspaper tomorrow. Joe is very wrong in doing what he did. I guess he never realized the impact of this in Facebook, of all places. People all over the world are on Facebook. Bad!” Demapan told Buckingham.
“Sorry Boss. Just airing out my frustrations,” she added.
Buckingham replied: “Well what’s done is done. I will be extra-careful in my intro. Thank you for catching this on Facebook. If you had not caught it this would be a bigger problem. Thanks.”
The campaign committees of Kilili and Democratic candidate Jesus C. Borja, as well as other individuals, have filed a complaint against the AG with the Office of the Public Auditor.
The AGO provides legal advice to the election commission.
