The Warren Tribune publishes fluff interview of Judicial Candidates Becker and Kovoor, with paid ad for Becker attached

Today, the Warren Tribune published a discussion about the race for Trumbull County judge between Chris Becker and Sarah Kovoor, along with a conspicuous paid ad from Becker at the bottom of the page. Very typical of the Tribune, the editor subtly favored Becker by giving him the first and last words, with a few comments from Kovoor (who didn’t pay for ads) sandwiched in between.

The Tribune writes: “Becker also addressed his social media controversies, where tweets he posted were criticized as inappropriate. While he was cleared by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Council, Becker acknowledged that the situation taught him a valuable lesson.

“It wasn’t professional, and I’ve taken steps to ensure I’m more careful,” he said. “I took diversity and inclusion classes at Purdue University, and it’s something I’ve worked on.” He mentioned that, aside from his campaign, he has largely stepped away from social media and plans to avoid it after the election.

Notice the editor didn’t want to draw any attention to what Becker actually said, just to acknowledge that there were “social media controversies” over his inappropriate tweets.”

The tone Becker strikes in this statement is noteworthy. It would be admirable if he actually stepped away from social media. He hasn’t. Now, he only trolls anonymously.

As anyone who has criticized him well knows, Becker wages a shadow war against his critics. As I can attest, those who criticize Becker will find themselves facing verbal abuse from angry trolls online. Little effort is spent to make the accounts seem real. They often comment on specific aspects of people’s cases and express opinions about how guilty they are, among other insults.

Becker is not even the DA. He’s been second chair or lower his whole career. It is unlikely that such a lowly official in a mostly rural county would have a band of fanatical supporters who angrily go after anybody who criticizes him. If he does, then you can be sure he knows them personally and is aware of their trolling.

Jamie Sell has endured Becker’s shadow campaign for years. She is stalked by anonymous trolls who insist her son was guilty in a trial where Becker won a conviction against him. Hmmm… who else would be so passionate about the trial and conviction of a random young guy — other than his mother?

Any casual observer of this situation can understand Becker’s motive to defend his work when someone says that he unjustly convicted someone. And who else would have the passion to do that every week, perpetrating a creepy cyber-bullying campaign for multiple years?

If it’s not Becker, maybe he should publicly ask whoever it is to please stop harassing this woman. How about that, Mr. Becker?

Becker may have “learned his lesson” about putting his hand on the oven of social media (without anonymity), but he still often puts out inappropriate statements and uses the newspapers (ahem, the Tribune) to thank jurors for convictions and to impugn the reputations of any defendant who lands in the docket. Check out the guidance of the American Bar Association on thanking jurors and criticizing defendants. Consider that the Ohio Supreme Court called him out, saying he “brought shame on the legal profession.” He was also disciplined for other procedural infractions by the same court. I could go on…

There should be no doubt that Becker is unprofessional, inept, and constantly seeking to put his fingers on the scales of justice.

Becker already showed everyone who he really is. And there’s no better illustration of what’s wrong in Trumbull County than the Warren Tribune’s relationship with the candidates the paper provides coverage on. Today’s puff piece with the paid-to-play advertisement from the candidate and the rigged poll in his favor show just how out of step local officials and institutions are. It’s insane to me that Chris Becker is representing the local Democratic Party.

Let us reminisce with some of the classic tweets of this fake Democratic candidate for judge…

When someone tells you who they are, believe them.