Politics & Government

Newton out of House Minority Office Job in Fake Facebook Page Fallout

The director of policy communication for the House GOP, Chuck Newton, is out of a job at the House Minority Office after he admitted helping Coventry Republican Sen. Nick Kettle make a fake Facebook page to mock political rival and Coventry Rep. Scott Guthrie.

Coventry Police launched an investigation into the page in late December after Guthrie, who said in an interview that "more charges will [soon] be filed" with federal authorities, contacted them and said a fraudulent Facebook page was created using his name and a fake email address using his name.

The page was created on Nov. 7. With a profile picture of a heart and Guthrie's distinctive mustache, the fake Guthrie had apparently friended other state leaders and at first glance, you might not realize the deception with innocuous posts like "Merry Christmas everyone!" and "Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday."

But, Guthrie told police, the views in regards to the issues surrounding the Central Coventry Fire District "were opposite views and opinions of his" and he felt "the page was created for the sole reason to 'slander him personally and professionally.'"

Coventry Police got subpoenas and soon were able to confirm that it was Kettle who created the page by tracking the IP addresses used on the Facebook pages to the Autumn Drive address that Kettle lives with his parents as well as a computer at the State House. Other addresses came back, but it was Kettle accessing the page during those times.  

Kettle did not cooperate with police and agree to answer questions under advice of his lawyer, Robert Watson, the former top GOP Republican in the Rhode Island House who was stripped of his leadership after he was charged with DUI and marijuana possession in 2011. 

The lead Coventry detective on the case, Kevin P. Harris, reported that Watson told him that he advised Kettle not to meet with police because "it could result in negative media publicity." 

Coventry Police believed there was enough evidence to constitute cyberharassment and turned to the state Attorney General. The initial review by the AG's office determined the Facebook page fell under First Amendment protection, prompting Coventry Police to close the case. 

But it's not over. An attorney general spokeswoman said the AG's office will continue to review the case and Guthrie said Wednesday that there will be more charges filed but could not elaborate because of the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Newton said in an interview that he helped Kettle create the page when he was asked to do it.

"It was a lapse in judgement," said Newton, also the chairman of the East Greenwich Republican Town Committee. "I'd probably do it differently if asked to do it over."

Newton said he played a minimal role in the whole thing and simply helped get it set up.

He said Kettle came into the office one day and said "I got this cartoon," referring to a caricature of Guthrie as an octopus with tentacles clutching bags of money and reaching into a bucket of cash labeled "Fire Tax."

"I want to get it out," Kettle said. "How do I do it?"

They turned to the computer and went to Facebook, Newton said.

"One thing led to another."

Kettle told the Providence Journal that he was merely trying to protect his constituents.

"I'm not going to apologize or complain about the rough and tumble politics that is Coventry," Kettle said. "We are dealing with a very divisive issue."

Kettle told the Journal that he was trying to show "who Rep. Guthrie is and what he has done to them in the legislature."

Newton said he hasn't had any contact from authorities and described the situation as "a tempest in a teapot," but Guthrie isn't taking the matter lightly and said he will soon be issuing a press release with more details about the matter.


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