Defamation of Eckersley's character may be based on spam e-mail

Intro: Since Scott Eckersley's firing on what he claims were political grounds, the Blunt administration has attacked Eckersley's character, including claims that he visited pornographic websites on his state computer.

Benjamin DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more.

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Eckersley claims the e-mails on his computer from pornographic websites were junk mail that he never asked for, and with the current state e-mail system, that is certainly a possibility.

The offices of twelve state senators contacted all said they had serious problems with spam e-mail in their state accounts, including Democratic senator Joan Bray.

Actuality: BRAY2.WAV

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Description: The amount of pornography that comes to my e-mail address through the state is just, is obscene.

Bray also said she was worried the administration was using those e-mail to smear the character of anyone they had a dispute with.

From the state capitol, this is Benjamin DeMeyer.

Intro: The Blunt administration's attacks on Scott Eckersley's character include claims he recieved pornographic e-mails on his computer, but Eckersley claims those e-mails were just spam.

Benjamin DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more.

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Eckersley's claims that the e-mails in question were spam may be legitimate.

The offices of twelve state senators contacted all said they recieved a considerable amount of spam e-mail in their government accounts, with one senator saying 90 to 95 percent of his e-mails were spam.

Democratic senator Joan Bray says she's worried the Blunt Administration is using these e-mails to their political advantage.

Actuality: BRAY4.WAV

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Description: This seems to be a theme now, the governor has a dispute with someone, fires them, and then accuses them of looking at pornography on state time.

Bray called the amount of pornographic spam she recieved, "obscene."

From the state capitol, this is Benjamin DeMeyer.

Intro: State senators say the state e-mail system the Blunt administration has accused Scott Eckersley of using for pornographic e-mails has a serious problem with spam e-mail, which Eckersley claims his questioned e-mails were.

Benjamin DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more.

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The offices of twelve state senators contacted all said they recieve a serious amount of spam e-mail, including e-mails that are pornographic or sexual in nature.

Republican senator Delbert Scott says 90-95 percent of the e-mails in his state account are spam.

Democratic senator Joan Bray says she has a problem with Blunt's administration using e-mail content to discredit opponents, fearing what it might lead to.

Actuality: BRAY3.WAV

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Description: If I happen to click on one of those sometime, you know, if I, you know if I didn't recognize it for what it was, clicked on it, am I gonna be accused of, you know, looking at pornography of state time?

Republican senator John Griesheimer says the content of a state employees e-mail inbox should not be considered representative of that person.

From the state capitol, this is Benjamin DeMeyer.

Intro: St Louis Democratic state senator Joan Bray says the Blunt administration's accusations against Scott Eckersley have angered her, and Eckersley says they are based on spam e-mails common in state e-mail accounts.

Benjamin DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more.

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The administration claims their former lawyer Scott Eckersley used his state computer for pornographic e-mails, but Eckersley says those e-mails were just spam.

Democratic state senator Joan Bray says she's worried about the Blunt administrations actions in attacking the character of political opponents.

Actuality: BRAY1.WAV

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Description: Why they have to turn on that person and smear them personally, I don't understand that part of the dynamic at all.

Eckersley's claim that the pornographic e-mails were spam may be gunine, as the offices of twelve state senators contacted all reported a problem with spam e-mail including pornography.

From the state capitol, this is Benjamin DeMeyer.