Wanda Baucus: ‘You don't have the story at all' | Helena I-R

[Ediacara]

Wanda Baucus: ‘You don't have the story at all'

By TED MONOSON - IR Washington Bureau - 05/08/04

Wanda Baucus and her lawyer say they plan to vigorously fight a misdemeanor assault charge that was brought against her following an argument over mulch at a Washington, D.C., garden center.

"This will not be over until the big bell rings out in the end," the wife of Montana Democratic Sen. Max Baucus said when reached at her home in Washington's upscale Georgetown neighborhood.

The incident between Wanda Baucus and Tierney Augusta Barron took place on April 20 at Johnson's Garden Center. Baucus was charged with simple assault on April 21 and she is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on Monday morning. The main purpose of the appearance will likely be to set a trial date, Wanda Baucus' lawyer David Schertler said.

Wanda Baucus said that news stories about the case have not been accurate.

More at the Helena Independent-Record

[bluedeminredstate]

1. Boxing referrence?

"'This will not be over until the big bell rings out in the end,' the wife of Montana Democratic Sen. Max Baucus said when reached at her home in Washington's upscale Georgetown neighborhood."

If so, it's an unfortunate choice of words considering that she's accused of slapping a woman around. She sounds like a bit of a loose cannon giving a quote like that to the newspaper.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Superficial coverage in the article, as in the first one.

(snip)
Schertler could provide little wisdom on Wanda Baucus' statement about Barron's "history."

"I have heard those rumors too, but I don't feel comfortable enough to talk about it," Schertler said.

Barron has not filed a civil suit against Wanda Baucus and it is unclear if she plans to. A civil suit would allow Barron to receive money to compensate her for her injuries.

"Nobody was seriously injured, so I don't see a civil case coming out of this," Schertler said. "But it is a possibility."

Schertler added that both sides would like to wrap up the issue. "My impression is there is some desire on both sides to get this over with and end the press attention," Schertler said. "If Ms. Baucus was not involved in this it would not be getting any press attention. A dozen incidents like this take place every day in Washington."
(snip/)

What's sets this case apart from the "dozen incidents like this" which "take place every day in Washington" is that this one involves the wife of a very effective Democratic Senator.

The story lacks fundamental elements and they are unwilling to make it everyone's business, so very little is known. When the lawyer says the other woman is the subjects of rumors, it's very possible the other woman was simply way out of line and combative.