I just saw a TV ad for Del. Paul Nichols in which a jail cell door is closing on Rich Anderson after claims of wrongdoing. I immediately thought of the outcry that Paul Nichols made after an Anderson
campaign flyer was delivered. I must confess, at first I thought Anderson had pushed the envelope here, but after more research I believe Anderson’s campaign has done the 51st a great service.
Who in their right mind gets out of a second car, with the policeman outnumbered, and challenges an officer in the middle of a traffic stop? As Nichols’ story unfolds, there is an altercation between
himself and the officer, and Nichols ends up on the ground and under arrest. Ultimately, Nichols went to court, and the case was dismissed, but Nichols didn’t have a hearing where the facts proved him
innocent. He dodged a bullet; the case was dismissed on a technicality: The officer had left the force and was unavailable.
I then wondered how Anderson could be so careless as to release Nichols Social Security Number, and then I realized the SSN box on the report was blank! It was Nichols who revealed that his Driver
License number was the same as his SSN. Sheesh!
When Nichols’ ad hit, I thought, “Wait a minute.” Anderson reveals a real and true arrest record, however embarrassing, then, Nichols in a fit of rage, not having expunged his arrest record soon enough,
reveals his SSN to embarrass Anderson, and where does it end up? Nichols calls Anderson a criminal and slaps him behind bars in his ad! Nichols has become (or was he always?) the scurrilous fellow
he accuses Anderson of being!
I believe the News & Messenger was hasty in asking for Anderson’s apology. Truth is truth, regardless of how painful. Mr. Nichols was arrested but never proved his innocence.
TOM WHITMORE
Manassas
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