If Mr. DeBergh thinks the timing of the report

If Mr. DeBergh thinks the timing of the report on the closed record was planned to influence the outcome of the election, we suggest he take that complaint to the judge who ordered the record sealed and decided when to open it; to Diane Kidwell’s attorneys who made the initial motion for closure, to the Virginia Supreme Court which delayed a ruling on the judge’s actions for months.

Since February 25—long before there were candidates for the office of commonwealth’s attorney—the Rappahannock News has fought at both the circuit court and Virginia Supreme Court levels to have the record opened. We did not know what that record would reveal; we could only guess at what it contained. We published the story in last week’s paper because last week was the first time we had the facts. Last week was the first time we had sworn statements, statements on the record. Last week was the first time we—or anyone else, including Mr. James DeBergh, had anything more than rumor, supposition, guesses and unattributable remarks.

Yes, wre may have given extensive attention to the matter. The same attention would be given to any “mistake” (Mr. DeBergh’s quotation marks) made by a candidate for public office.

Apparently Mr. DeBergh believes that the Rappahannock News should go with rumors in the interests of timeliness rather than waiting until the facts are in hand. We certainly could fill the front page with plenty of hot, juicy items each week. Our circulation figures would skyrocket if we followed his ideas on how to run a newspaper—and so would our legal bills from libel suits. But no thanks, Mr. DeBergh. In the interests of journalistic integrity, we’ll wait until those rumors are substantiated— even if it means printing a story that you’ve already heard through the grapevine.