The Maryland Democratic Party is accusing former Gov. Robert Ehrlich?s law firm and his ex-press secretary with being the source of OMalleyWatch.com and lying about their involvement in what party spokesman David Paulson calleda “smear Web site” attacking Democratic Gov. Martin O?Malley.
But Henry Fawell, the former press aide who works with Ehrlich at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, repeated denials he and the former governor made to The Examiner two weeks ago. “I am not OMalleyWatch and have not the slightest clue who it is,” Fawell told The Examiner on Thursday. “David Paulson gives me way too much credit.”
The Democrats base their charges on an e-mail Fawell sent to WBAL-TV reporter John Sherman on Tuesday afternoon describing a questionable Kent Island land deal before the Board of Public Works. Fawell said Sherman was the only reporter he had sent the e-mail to. Information similar to Fawell?s was posted on OMalleyWatch.com several hours later.
The information on the $7.2 million purchase at Love Point, which was delayed by the board Wednesday, “came from someone I can?t possibly believe is OMalleyWatch,” Fawell said.
Four hours before Fawell?s e-mail, Martin Watcher, the pseudonym of the anonymous blogger behind the Web site, sent an e-mail to The Examiner also describing the Kent Island deal. Both Fawell and Watcher have Gmail accounts.
Martin Watcher, in an e-mail to The Examiner, said, “I am not Henry Fawell.”
Joe Shapiro, spokesman for Comptroller Peter Franchot, said the land deal already had been flagged by Franchot, who planned to question it the next day.
“It?s really entertaining,” Fawell said of the controversy. And he was mystified that the Democrats continue to mention the Web site.
“They keep driving people to the Web site,” he said.
