From Sept 2007, here's the infamous press conference from Mark Boughton that happened on the day the civil lawsuit was filed. Until now, the public has never viewed this footage from the press conference in it's entirety. For those in the media who were not at this event and plan to write on this story, I HIGHLY recommend that you view the footage.

When you watch the video, keep in mind that until this day, Boughton insisted that the city played no part in the raid at Kennedy Park (first comment was made in December 2006; press conference footage taken in Sept 2007). Also, keep in mind that Boughton's revised comments about the city's role in the raid in this footage came AFTER a freedom of Information request from the Yale Law Students revealed that Danbury PD was very involved in the raid (e.g., an undercover police officer was driving the van that was used to round up the day-laborers, police documents show that a Danbury Police officer was the arresting official, day laborers were charges were only related to immigration, etc.). That information was provided to Yale unearthed earlier that same year AND I reported on the revelation on Sept 17 2007.

As someone who attended the presser, I can tell you that reporters were frustrated with the way Boughton avoided answering questions about the city's role in the raid (e.g., you'll be able to hear the frustration from Mark Spencer from the Hartford Courant when he asked the mayor who was the arresting officers). Also take note on how Boughton answers questions regarding his knowledge of the raid.

This interview from Boughton is quite extraordinary for several reasons, the most important is that this was the first time he had to face questions from several media outlets on this subject from outside the local area (New York Times, Hartford Courant, WTNH, etc.). Second, when it comes to credibility, Boughton's evasive answers regarding the city's role in the raid should raise more questions than answers. For example, Nine months AFTER stating that the city played no role in the raid, Boughton now claimed that the city offered "logistical" support BUT refuses to offer an explanation to the nature of the city's "logistical" support. It was only until years later AFTER this presser was conducted that we learned that Danbury's role in the matter was MUCH more than what Boughton stated in interviews prior to the Sept. press conference.

For instance, here's what eventually came out in court.

In numerous news accounts at the time of the Sept. 19, 2006 arrests, Boughton said the operation was not ordered by the city, but was rather a federal operation that Danbury assisted with, based on information he received at the time from Police Chief Alan Baker.

ICE agent James Brown, according to court documents, rejected that description. “He (Boughton) said the city did not order the operation, that ICE was already on the way. That is not correct, not for this activity that we are talking about on Sept. 19,” Brown testified.

Danbury police Lt. James Fisher, in a separate deposition, testified that Danbury police initiated the action by seeking ICE assistance, which ICE approved after the third or fourth request. ICE agent Richard McCaffrey in his deposition, said Boughton was pressuring the police chief, who pressured the department’s Special Investigations Division “to do something about” the day laborers at Kennedy Park.

The questions directed to Boughton by the statewide media regarding the city's role in the raid are EXACTLY the type of questions reporters should be asking him now for one reason...Boughton's responses to Danbury's involvement in the raid goes to the heart of his credibility. Remember, politicians get in trouble more for their dishonesty than for their missteps.

Based on his responses in the video, let's just say that I don't think Boughton helped his case as I'm almost certain he was questioned about these statements in his deposition while under oath.

Although the footage is over 16 mins. in length, I recommend that you watch it...and view it in it's correct context along with the statements Boughton made about the case aprox. nine months prior.



Remember, as of now, the public has yet to view and/or read Boughton's entire deposition when he was forced to answer questions about the case under oath. Although the material has been made available to the Danbury News-Times and The New Haven Register, which provided the best insight into portions of Boughton's 300 page deposition transcript, the public should have an opportunity to view the material and judge for themselves.

In light of Boughton's inconsistent statements to the public, his statements to the press in the above video, and the 400,000 dollar settlement in this case, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO VIEW THE DEPOSITION FROM BOUGHTON, McLACHLAN and CHIEF BAKER...make the depositions available to the public.