CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An anonymous recording released online this week allegedly captures embattled Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell and Parkersburg City Manager Ashley Flowers talking about what they would do if text messages, apparently confirming an affair between them, were released publicly.
“I don’t understand the issue as it pertains to the Mayor’s Office because it’s more of the same from the same people who already lost their own elections,” Harry Deitzler, Newell’s attorney, said of the recording on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Newell has been under fire for allegedly having an affair with Flowers — one she has publicly apologized for, but something he has not addressed.
Complaints filed with the West Virginia Ethics Commission allege the affair compromised Parkersburg city business and lead to the misuse of money.
A petition calling for a three-judge panel to consider the removal of Newell from office is expected to be filed soon. There is also an ongoing State Police investigation.
Deitzler admitted he had not listened to the lastest recording, lasting more than 30 minutes, which was posted to SoundCloud on Wednesday evening. The recording date and its source are not known.
During Friday’s show, Hoppy Kercheval asked Deitzler, “As his attorney, are you willing to say categorically today that the Mayor has done nothing wrong, nothing illegal, nothing that would – in your opinion – qualify for any sort of action or removal from office?”
“Yes,” was the answer from Deitzler.
Deitzler maintained Newell was being attacked for personal reasons.
“They’re trying to force Bob into a position where his family is trashed and he has no choice but to resign so that his family can move on and that’s what they’re intending to do so they can subvert the electoral process,” Deitzler said.
“The only reason he’s holding out is because that’s just plain wrong.”
Earlier this year, more than 1,000 other files including text messages, e-mails and photos were anonymously released through the distribution of a flash drive.
Flowers is currently on leave from her Parkersburg city job. She was placed on leave following her arrest on child endangerment charges in February for allegedly leaving her two kids in a cold car while she went into the Grand Central Mall.
Five employees in Parkersburg’s finance department are suing the city claiming sexual harassment and a hostile work environment that they blamed on the affair between Flowers, who is their supervisor, and Newell.