State sides with Oregonian reporter in harassment case

PORTLAND – The state Department of Justice has determined that an Oregonian/OregonLive reporter did not harass a woman by contacting her for a story about a recall effort against a Grant County official.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Julie Carr had been the chief petitioner in the effort to get Grant County Commissioner Boyd Britton removed from office. Reporter Les Zaitz had made attempts to the woman by phone and email.

Carr accused Zaitz of harassing her, saying he had contacted her after she asked him to stop.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Daniel Wendel said in a memo to District Attorney Jim Carpenter that there was no evidence to support a harassment charge against Zaitz. Wendel said Zaitz had contacted Carr “in support of a journalistic endeavor.”