A recently elected Oregon Democrat, Melissa Fireside, is facing serious legal trouble just months after taking office.
Melissa Fireside pleads not guilty
Fireside, 43, pleaded not in court on Wednesday to eight charges that include first-degree aggravated theft and first-degree theft, as reported by Oregon Live.
Specific details about the allegations remain undisclosed, as the indictment has yet to be made public.
A criminal investigation against the Clackamas County Commissioner began in October following a complaint filed in September.
She has been accused of stealing money from an 83-year-old man after gaining access to his computer.
Just one week before Election Day, Fireside’s Lake Oswego home in the Portland suburbs was searched by law enforcement officials, her lawyer confirmed last year.
According to KPTV, Fireside allegedly forged the man’s signature, along with the signature of Oregon State Representative April Dobson to steal the cash.
According to Dobson, Fireside borrowed funds for her business over the summer and paid back the loan, which may have been repaid with her alleged victim’s money.
Despite the allegations, Fireside has refrained from making public statements about the case and declined to comment through her attorney.
Board of Commissioners want Melissa Fireside to resign
Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners has been attempting to carry on amid the turmoil. During its inaugural meeting in January—where Fireside took her seat—fellow Commissioner Ben West verbalized his concern about her presence.
Speaking with Oregon Live, West said, “There are looming questions with this board about how it will be governed in the next few months that will impact how we strategize and plan because of the legal issues that are still looming with Commissioner Fireside.”
West did not hold back his frustrations, adding, “We’re entrusted with a lot of sensitive things here, and we do important work. It’s hard to do that work when, frankly, we’re all on eggshells, and we have this looming over us.”
Fireside’s attorney, Mark Cogan, maintains her innocence, pointing to the presumption of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Speaking to WWeek in November, Cogan stressed that the details of the case remained unknown to the defense. “The facts and details of the matter have not been furnished to us, and I hope people will not rush to judgment.”
Cogan also criticized the search warrants carried out at Fireside’s home, describing them as relying on “one-sided information provided by law enforcement.”
He argued the legal standard for such warrants was “very low.” At the time, Cogan was optimistic that the investigation would not interfere with his client’s ability to assume her elected position. “I don’t know why it should,” he had said. “She is presumed innocent.”
Dobson for one, wants Fireside out. “We have so much work ahead of us in Clackamas County, and our residents deserve leaders they can trust. I believe Melissa Fireside’s actions are unacceptable for an elected official and call on her to resign immediately,” she said in a statement.
The sentiment was echoed by West, after reports emerged that Fireside was taking a leave of absence from her position.
“The felony charges against Commissioner Fireside are damning. My heart goes out to the elderly man she allegedly victimized,” he commented. “The board must take swift action to protect the county and the vulnerable populations we serve.”
House Speaker’s Chief of Staff arrested
Meanwhile, in Washington, Hayden Haynes, the Chief of Staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has found himself embroiled in another controversy rocking the political scene.
Haynes was arrested on DUI charges shortly after former President Donald Trump addressed Congress, according to NBC News.
Law enforcement officials revealed that around midnight, Haynes struck a Capitol vehicle, leading to his arrest before he was released with a citation.
Reports indicate that the incident took place following Trump’s high-profile speech, during which Johnson presided over the House floor as Speaker.
“A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m.,” U.S. Capitol Police relayed in a statement. “We responded and arrested them for DUI.”
Known as a trusted confidant of Speaker Johnson, Haynes has worked closely with him for a decade and currently leads staff operations in the Speaker’s office.
Johnson expressed his unwavering support for Haynes, telling reporters, “I am. I am,” when asked if he still stood by his aide.
Taylor Haulsee, a spokesperson for Johnson, issued a statement describing Haynes’ long-standing reputation on Capitol Hill.
“The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police,” Haulsee said.
“The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Hayden’s esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Hayden’s ability to lead the Speaker’s office.”
