Mayor Sam Adams issued an apology to 9 TV cameras and more than 30 journalists in the Rose Room on the third floor of City Hall this afternoon, for lying about the nature of his mentoring relationship with a former legislative intern, Beau Breedlove. Adams had previously denied their relationship was sexual, but admitted to the Willamette Week yesterday that he lied about that—today, he said he had had a sexual relationship with Breedlove for “about two months,” which began about a month after Breedlove’s 18th birthday.
“I think this is fundamentally an issue of a public official lying,” he said.
Adams was asked if he lied to get elected. He stuck to his line about lying to counter lies spread by Bob Ball, a real estate developer who had planned to run against him for mayor.
Asked whether he expected to get away with his behavior, Adams responded “it’s not entirely up to me.”
“I pride myself on telling the truth, and my word is very important to me,” he said. “I am very ashamed, humbled, and humiliated, and I think that’s absolutely appropriate.”
Adams said he would resign if it became clear that it was not in the best interests of the city for him to remain mayor.
“This is the modern age,” he said.
Asked what Breedlove needed mentoring in, Adams said “he needed help getting into politics.”
Adams said Breedlove had never consumed alcohol while they were dating, and that he had not found their relationship “compelling” due to the age difference. He said the relationship ended of its own course, because he was dating a number of people at the time, having just ended an 11-year relationship.
“I know I have a lot to do to restore the public’s trust,” Adams continued. “But I would ask the public to consider this anomaly in the context of my two decades of public service.”
Asked about the recall effort currently under way, Adams responded: “Listen, this admission, I understand it is shocking, and that people are angry about it, I understand that, and that might lead to a recall and it’s the public’s right to do that. It’s my job to apologize, and be sincere about it.”
“I apologize for lying, and to Beau for asking me to lie for him,” said Adams. “I also apologize for partaking of this at a time when the services and programs of government are needed most.”
Adams apologized to Portlanders “for embarrassing them.”
Adams said he had no plans to resign, but that his job is to come clean. “I mucked it up,” he said.
A reporter said Commissioner Randy Leonard has expressed his concern about the affair and that he wants an independent investigation launched into the incident. Adams said his calendar, email and phone records for the period in question would be made public, and that he had called Leonard to apologize for lying to him about his relationship with Breedlove.
“I don’t think an apology in and of itself is enough,” Adams continued. “I’ll be subject to greater scrutiny because of all this.”
“I lied at the time because I was concerned that untrue rumors being circulated by an undeclared campaign opponent for mayor that said I had broken the law involving sexual relations with a minor were being circulated, but that is not a good excuse,” said Adams.
“Although my relationship with Beau was legal and consensual, because of my position in the community and because of the difference in our age I also want to acknowledge that it was inappropriate for me to have a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old and I want to apologize for having done so,” Adams continued.
The Portland Police Association’s Mitch Copp said the PPA is “disappointed” with Adams, and asked for his resignation. Kopp said Adams’ behavior presented an opportunity for “blackmail.”
COP COPP: Called for resignation…
Adams was asked if he had ever fired anybody for lying. He said “I don’t recall.”
Adams was asked what consequences he would face besides coming clean. “Well, I’m facing them,” he said. “I’m being held accountable, which is appropriate, and my reputation is impacted, my friendships have been impacted.
Adams said he would like to apologize to Breedlove’s parents. “I’ve got a lot of people to talk to and apologize to,” he said.
I’m not having any of this. And Breedlove is a very, very lovely name. And I plan on supporting Sam through this, as it may open many other doors for the city of Portland. And I believe that is the purpose of this blog. Portland will regret losing Adams’ leadership by trying to come off to the rest of the country as morally purist.
-Bayard Rustin via Lt. Billiam Esquire III
Huh? Adams now says his sexual relationship with an 18-year-old was “inappropriate” — but not illegal? Why would he need to apologize to Breedlove’s parents? Is Breedlove a victim of a chicken hawk’s advances?
Ick. If he feels that he did take sexual advantage of a vulnerable young person, then he should resign and consider some type of counseling.
Sam,
It’s not in the best interests of the city for you to remain mayor. Resign now. Get the psychological help that you need.
There’s no pursuit of “moral purism.” Either you have integrity and trust – or you do not.
Let’s keep the mayor.
Also, when you asked about “Getting away with it,” I found that odd. Clearly, he didn’t get away with it because he was at a press conference apologizing and having unfair questions fired at him.
And way to go Commissioner Fritz!!
18 year olds die in combat for..for…for. freedom. Maybe it’s also an anti-war statement. Breedlove. This is how this stuff works. Plus, Bayard RUSTIN!!
a) Why should I care where the mayor puts his penis?
b) No, really, why should I care?
c) He lied about where he put his penis. Since I still can’t see why I should care about the penis-placement, why should I care about his covering up of said penis placement?
d) This line of logic can go on pretty much forever. Why should I care about the press conference stemming from the coverup stemming from the campaign mud-slinging stemming from the penis use that I still can’t see a reason to care about? Add another fifty levels to this, and it still comes back to point a) above.
a) Why should I care where the mayor puts his penis?
b) No, really, why should I care?
c) He lied about where he put his penis. Since I still can’t see why I should care about the penis-placement, why should I care about his covering up of said penis placement?
d) This line of logic can go on pretty much forever. Why should I care about the press conference stemming from the coverup stemming from the campaign mud-slinging stemming from the penis use that I still can’t see a reason to care about? Add another fifty levels to this, and it still comes back to point a) above.
The hell did Fritz do besides try and divert attention, call us all liars too, and cry while blaming the media for Sam’s lies?
Yeah, woo hoo.
Oh yes, let’s all get on our high horses and ride them around.
Good idea.
Not being one who repeatedly lies to people and your employers does not exactly constitute a high horse ride.
I really didn’t care much one way or the other about Sam Adams before this, but now the ‘moral majority’ are PISSING ME OFF and so I support Sam fully. You go, Sam! By which I mean, you STAY IN OFFICE, Sam!
I find it somehow comforting that when our public servants or any other people who have leadership roles in our lives, lie to us, for our own good, its not criminal! there is a GOD!I always knew that my mom and pastor were not telling us the whole truth. by-bye,damnifino
Cop Copp!!! hahahaha Now that is true comedy! Well done Matt!
Could lead to blackmail? What, is it the 1950s again?
Yeah, he should resign, because no 40 year old straight man has ever thought about humping an 18 year old girl or done it…
Clearly, because he’s gay, it’s different and way grosser.
Do you guys need any help off your pulpits and high horses?
Didn’t we have enough of this with the Clinton impeachment debacle? When we pry into people’s sexual lives, they may not be entirely forthcoming. Do you all want to post your sexual activity for the public to see? Why is it any of our business if two consenting adults had a sexual relationship? The question should not have been asked in the first place. Get off it, you fucking hypocrits.
Stop the madness.
I can understand the arguments about trust but the arguments about the age difference and totally bogus. This is simply an attempt to paint a gay man as some kind of pedophile. There’s definitely a double-standard being applied. I’m sure that Copp dude is totally tolerant of homosexuals and completely unmotivated by the fact that Adam’s is gay. Rrrright.
Demondog, you douche. No one is pissed he boinked an 18 year old. We are pissed that he coached others to lie, smeared people who tried to uncover his lie, and perhaps made political decisions based on keeping his lies undercover.
And yeah Copp is a douche too, but sunshine and dogs ass and all of that…
Why is the Tribune and the Oregonian making a big deal of this? It’s overly stupid and just plain silly. Really, who cares that Adams slept with another consenting adult that he had a relationship with?
Adams has a lot of good in store for Portland and I have been very happy to have him in office. Every day I wake up and read something about him, it’s always been something I have agreed with (well, that’s an exaggeration because I have no really agreed with his plans that push the Columbia River Crossing… but that’s another argument). I’ve had a lot more hope that Adams will change the world more than I do for President Obama (not that I don’t care about him).
That being said, if we were to vote again tomorrow for a new mayor, I would vote for Sam Adams again, no questions asked.
Sam Adams has my total support.
If Adams did nothing wrong then why did he lie about it? then cover it up by Hiring the Portland Mercury reporter, with public money, who worked on investigating the story for a position which paid a lot more than her old one, just to keep her quiet about the whole thing.
this is a no brainer! he should respect the people he’s representing and step down, he’s embarrassed Portland, and every citizen living here.