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| Chiodo, left, with Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck, at an event last year |
By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
Jim Chiodo's life was turned upside down earlier this year after he found himself in court defending his reputation against allegations he was trying to intimidate and harass Holland Sentinel Editor Sarah Leach.
Despite Chiodo's efforts representing himself, Leach prevailed, forcing Chiodo to give up his gun collection and publicly embarrassing the Veteran, tea party activist, and Trump supporter.
On Thursday August 17th at 3 pm in Grand Haven, Chiodo will attempt to get the ruling reversed. This time, he's bringing a lawyer, and he's hoping the Hon. Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Karen Miedema will have a change of heart.
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| Chiodo from his Air Force days |
During the investigation for this story, WMP filed a FOIA request with the Holland Police Department and spoke to multiple sources close to Chiodo and involved in area politics, as well as utilized information from Chiodo's email blasts and Go FundMe page. Chiodo was unable to talk directly about the case because of pending litigation.
Chiodo, well known in West Michigan political circles for his former role as leader of the Ottawa County Patriots, has been a thorn in the side of the Holland Sentinel for years, consistently criticizing the paper for what he believes is unfair coverage favoring Democrats over Republicans.
Through emails, Facebook posts and comments, as well as the paper's website, Chiodo hasn't been shy about letting the Sentinel know where he stands.
In February of this year though, the situation escalated.
Chiodo helped organize a February 18th rally supporting President Trump in downtown Holland, and because of his views about the Sentinel, he instructed supporters not to talk to the paper, which he believes is "fake news."
He initially tried to keep the rally somewhat of a secret to avoid protesters, however, a Sentinel reporter discovered a post on the Ottawa County Patriots website promoting it.
The day before the event, Holland Sentinel Editor Sarah Leach claims she felt intimidated by Chiodo, so she decided to file a complaint against him with the Holland Police Department.
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| Sarah Leach (Holland Sentinel photo) |
Police records show that Leach met with Holland Police at the Sentinel office on February 17 of this year. Leach said that Chiodo "appeared to be a far right leaning political leader" and after the election in November she received "numerous emails and comments on the Holland Sentinel web page...of Jim calling her or her employees names including libtard and snowflake."
Leach also said that "Jim began accusing the Sentinel of being a one sided news agency and promoting fake news." The communications "were not physically threatening or aggressive but were very weird and would often not make sense," Leach said.
At this meeting, Leach said she only wanted to make police aware of the situation in case something happened in the future.
A couple weeks later, when an officer talked to Chiodo and first informed him a complaint was filed, he said "I hate Sarah, and she hates me." He said he would no longer call the paper, but would continue to speak out, per his First Amendment rights.
Holland Police were dispatched to the Sentinel office again a few weeks later after Leach complained Chiodo had sent the paper an email. The email took issue with the "left leaning" views of the paper and was directed at an opinion writer, not Leach.
The officer told Leach that the email was not sent to her and wasn't threatening, advising her she could block his emails if she'd like. Leach felt she shouldn't have to do that.... Leach then sought a prosecution against Chiodo for harassment. The case was forwarded to prosecutors for possible charges.
Prosecutors refused to press charges against Chiodo.
That's when Leach decided to go another route, filing a civil action against Chiodo known as a SLAPP lawsuit. SLAPP, strategic lawsuit against public participation. Leach also sought a PPO, a personal protection order.
It's at this point in the story that Leach was aided (and perhaps duped) by controversial former Ottawa County Republican Party Secretary Chris McMullin.
McMullin, who lost his race for Allendale Township Trustee last summer, is an ardent "Never Trumper," and considers himself a strong supporter of State Rep. (D)aniela Garcia. Garcia's father beat Chiodo for a spot on the Ottawa County Commission last year...Chiodo has praised former Sentinel government reporter Caleb Whitmer for the coverage he received in that race.
McMullin, unsolicited, apparently approached Leach and offered to help her in the fight against Chiodo. Not only did he try to assist, he went rogue, misrepresenting himself as speaking for the Ottawa GOP.
However, Leach presented McMullin's twisted two cents as Ottawa GOP gospel, writing in her complaint that the organization had to have a police presence at meetings out of fear for Chiodo, and that he displays his concealed pistol at meetings.
After inquiring with multiple party regulars from grassroots activists to leadership, and as an attendee of dozens of meetings over the years, it's clear there is absolutely no basis for McMullin's claims, they are targeted and calculated lies.
Ottawa County GOP Chair Janessa Smit tells WMP McMullin speaks for himself.
"Individual members of the Ottawa GOP Executive Committee are just that- individuals," Smit said. "Our members are free to hold differing opinions, engage in outside activities, and support various causes (with the exception of endorsing candidates in the primary), but only the Chair is authorized to speak on behalf of the organization."
Unfortunately for Chiodo, McMullin's phony claims are what Leach said pushed her over the edge and caused her to seek the SLAPP/PPO. Leach's request was granted.
McMullin has resigned from the Ottawa GOP over the issue, and in a statement to West Michigan Politics, he denies making those claims.
"(I) never alleged he displayed a pistol at a meeting, never said that," McMullin said. "And I didn’t demand police presence, I offered to pay for it."
So, what happens next?
Chiodo will be in Ottawa County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon, trying to get the PPO terminated. He is asking for people to attend to attend and show their support, he says "free speech is on trial."
A GoFundMe page created for Chiodo says a local newspaper editor suing a resident sets a dangerous precedent.
“If an editor may successfully use the court to SLAPP a local conservative grassroots activist in Ottawa County, you may be the next target. Any local editor, confronted with failing circulation, could turn on conservative grassroots activists to justify their failed business model,”
Those who would like to support Chiodo with a contribution to his legal defense can make a donation at the link below. So far, he has raised nearly $6,000 out of the $10,000 he needs.
>>>CLICK HERE To View Jim Chiodo's GoFundMe Page
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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