A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Though he backed down, our writer was threatened with "Witness Tampering" by a Kentucky deputy AG over exposing a $50k payment from an OxyContin manufacturer.

Courtesy: 777denny.files.wordpress.com

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - The victims of OxyContin in every state in the country as well as Canada should be aware of an event that occurred recently in Kentucky.

Attorney General Jack Conway accepted a $50,000 check from an organization called NADDI - National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators. This "Seed Grant" will fund new drug diversion efforts in Eastern Kentucky and allow the task force to expand into other areas of the state.

What is interesting about this "Seed Grant" from NADDI is that the State of Kentucky is suing Purdue Pharma for the devastation caused in their state by OxyContin death, addiction and abuse.

NADDI is funded by Purdue Pharma and their website proudly displays the "RX Patrol" insignia. RX Patrol is run by Purdue Pharma. So here's my problem, how could the State of Kentucky's Attorney General accept a $50,000 check from an organization funded by a corporation his state is suing?

Granted the case is tied up in Federal Court in New York presently, but hopefully it will be remanded back to Kentucky in the future so the victims of OxyContin -- and their families -- in Kentucky can have their day in court.

I was curious about what would happen during a court proceeding when Purdue Pharma's high paid attorneys get up in court and say -- "If we're so bad, why did your Attorney General accept a $50,000 check from one of our organizations?" Curiosity got the best of me so with a little legwork, I managed to receive a call from a Deputy Attorney General in Conway's office. We got off to a bad start. When I outlined my concerns as stated above, he "assured" me that the $50,000 grant would not be brought up in the court action.

Marianne Skolek

That's when I had a problem.

I know how Purdue Pharma uses PR to their advantage and I told him that Purdue would certainly bring it up in court. The Deputy AG then told me the check was actually a grant from Abbott Labs and not Purdue Pharma. This writing would be too long to go into the relationship between Purdue Pharma and Abbott Labs.

My goal during my conversation with the Deputy AG was to convince him that a $50,000 check accepted by AG Conway by a funded Purdue Pharma organization was a slap in every OxyContin victim's face not only in Kentucky, but throughout the country.

When I realized it was a futile effort on my part, I told him that I would be doing some writings about this.

He advised me that if I did that I would be charged with "jury tampering." Since I was just told by the Deputy AG that Purdue Pharma would not be bringing this up in a court proceeding and since the case is not even close to having jury selection, why would I be threatened with the words "jury tampering?"

He backed down and said he didn't mean to use those words.

I told him our conversation was over, but not before I said Purdue Pharma had a good laugh at the expense of every OxyContin victim and their families by having Attorney General Conway accept a check directly from NADDI and indirectly from Purdue Pharma.

Shame on Attorney General Conway for not recognizing a wolf in sheep's clothing!