WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Mayor Accused of Stealing Papers Critical of Administration (West Haven-WTNH) _ A West Haven newspaper editor says he caught the mayor on tape stealing a stack of his free papers. The publication criticizes and makes fun of Mayor Richard Borer. The editor says Borer has been stealing the papers so no one will read them. But the mayor says he only took a few copies for his lawyer, because he plans to sue the paper for libel. News Channel 8's Christina Hager has the story. The democratic West Haven city hall is at odds with the Republican editor of a radical newspaper called "The West Haven "Bully"tin." Question is who is the bully here? Timothy Wrightington, The West Haven "Bully"tin: "As he walked out he grabbed the bundle, patted it against his chest, and put it underneath his arm." Tim Wrightington says West Haven Mayor Richard Borer stole a stack of his free quarterly papers from the Shoprite grocery store on New Year's Eve. He says video from the store's security camera proves it. Wrightington: "We set him up because we knew it had happened in the past, and I wanted it on video." Mayor Richard Borer, D-West Haven: "It wasn't like we had an operation where everywhere he went with these newspapers we were going to go pick them up. I was there for the express purpose of shopping on New Year's Eve. I saw a small stack of them, I wanted to take more than one, so I had them. It's not like I took - he claims - 500. It's not true." The law is unclear when it comes to this. Of course I can take this free paper. That's what it's here for. And I can take more than one. But if I take so many that I'm preventing them from being circulated elsewhere, that could be illegal. The law is also unclear when it comes to how far a newspaper can go to ridicule a public official. The "Bully"tin is full of cartoons, letters, and documents all aimed at bringing down the mayor. Now Borer says he's suing for libel. Wrightington: "It's not meant as a personal attack. It's meant to open the eyes of the people of west Haven as to as to where taxpayer money is being wasted." Borer: "Either way you cut it I think it's just a case of West Haven politics reaching an all-time low." The most recent issue of the paper shows a picture of a pirate ship called the "S.S. Borercrat" on the cover. Inside is a picture of the mayor's car bought with city funds and copies of property appraisals on Saw Mill Road. Both men are planning to file lawsuits. Wrightington is suing Borer for infringing on his freedom of speech, and Borer is suing Wrightington for libel. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Mayor Accused of Stealing Papers Critical of Administration
(West Haven-WTNH) _ A West Haven newspaper editor says he caught the mayor on tape stealing a stack of his free papers. The publication criticizes and makes fun of Mayor Richard Borer. The editor says Borer has been stealing the papers so no one will read them. But the mayor says he only took a few copies for his lawyer, because he plans to sue the paper for libel.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager has the story.

The democratic West Haven city hall is at odds with the Republican editor of a radical newspaper called "The West Haven "Bully"tin." Question is who *is* the bully here?

Timothy Wrightington, The West Haven "Bully"tin: "As he walked out he grabbed the bundle, patted it against his chest, and put it underneath his arm."

Tim Wrightington says West Haven Mayor Richard Borer stole a stack of his free quarterly papers from the Shoprite grocery store on New Year's Eve. He says video from the store's security camera proves it.

Wrightington: "We set him up because we knew it had happened in the past, and I wanted it on video."

Mayor Richard Borer, D-West Haven: "It wasn't like we had an operation where everywhere he went with these newspapers we were going to go pick them up. I was there for the express purpose of shopping on New Year's Eve. I saw a small stack of them, I wanted to take more than one, so I had them. It's not like I took - he claims - 500. It's not true."

The law is unclear when it comes to this. Of course I can take this free paper. That's what it's here for. And I can take more than one. But if I take so many that I'm preventing them from being circulated elsewhere, that could be illegal.

The law is also unclear when it comes to how far a newspaper can go to ridicule a public official. The "Bully"tin is full of cartoons, letters, and documents all aimed at bringing down the mayor. Now Borer says he's suing for libel.

Wrightington: "It's not meant as a personal attack. It's meant to open the eyes of the people of west Haven as to as to where taxpayer money is being wasted."

Borer: "Either way you cut it I think it's just a case of West Haven politics reaching an all-time low."

The most recent issue of the paper shows a picture of a pirate ship called the "S.S. Borercrat" on the cover. Inside is a picture of the mayor's car bought with city funds and copies of property appraisals on Saw Mill Road. Both men are planning to file lawsuits. Wrightington is suing Borer for infringing on his freedom of speech, and Borer is suing Wrightington for libel.

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