We often read about fake news consisting of deliberate misinformation and using sensationalism, dishonest or outright fabrication. The Daily Iberian and reporter Dwayne Fatherree are guilty of publishing fake news.

For example, Fatherree recently wrote my representation of my father in a lawsuit against Iberia Parish Government was behind the scenes and violates ethical rules. However, on January 31, 2019, I met with publisher Christina Pierce and brought her a 2017 signed Order by a judge allowing my representation, as well as an email from IPG’s lawyer consenting to my representation. There was no retraction to correct Fatherree’s blatant misrepresentation.

Another example of false information written by Fatherree is that I did not provide accurate information in an April 22 hearing about my employment. He wrote that I am an officer of Streamline Outdoor Gear and OnTheGeaux Dumpsters. However, these companies are owned by people with the same name having residential addresses in Jeanerette and Youngsville — two cities where I have never resided.

Further, the hypocrisy of Fatherree is palpable. There were five articles regarding the 2014 misdemeanor campaign issue made subject of the April 22 hearing, but no article about Fatherree’s March 5, 2019 arrest in Iberia for outstanding warrants in DeSoto Parish. Also, three New Iberia attorneys had the same committee hearing last year but neither Fatherree nor anyone from the DI attended or reported it.

Fatherree intentionally omitted that ODC stipulated and agreed at the April 22 hearing that I have good character; that there were letters by several people in favor of me; and that Senator Fred Mills, 16th JDC Judge Anthony Thibodeaux, former Senator Troy Hebert and the former chairman of the disciplinary board were present to testify to my good character. Importantly, there was witness tampering by “the Phil Haney contingency” in trying to intimidate some of these people from testifying on my behalf.

Fatherree was also very vague about people that attended the April 22 hearing but not required to be there. Present were Phil and Renee Haney, and their high school granddaughter, Kate; Bo and Lisa Duhe; Rob Vines; Trey and Jeanne Haik; Ted and Carol Haik; Gary McGoffin — the lawyer hired by Haney and Duhe in several IPG lawsuits and paid almost $500,000 in public funds; and Troy Comeaux. In fact, on March 9, 2019, Robert Kennedy wrote “I am willing to agree to documentary submissions in lieu of live testimony as far as ODC’s case-in-chief is concerned.”

Fatherree failed to include that, in a March 8, 2016 filing, Bo Duhe recused himself from any involvement saying he wanted “to avoid any allegations that may create a perception he has any sort of bias or personal interest in the matter.”

Fatherree refused to write about the March 19, 2019 admission by ODC that the campaign flyer about Ted and Trey Haik making almost $7,000,000 from public entities “was truthful” and had been previously “published in The Daily Iberian.”

In essence, Fatherree repeatedly refuses to tell the truth and is very misleading in articles about me, including the active participation by those with a political vendetta.

Shane E. A. Romero, Jr.

New Iberia