Outside legal counsel will conduct the investigation, according to a board resolution read by Gainesville District Supervisor George Stewart. The accusations came to light in an anonymous letter mailed to members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in early October. A “top member of executive leadership” is cited as engaging in “physical pushing and [a] demeaning verbal attack, touching and blatant sexual contact” that was “alarming” during the March expo at the Hylton Performing Arts Center near Manassas. … InsideNoVa obtained the letter from the county via a Freedom of Information Act request. … InsideNoVa has filed a FOIA request with George Mason University – which manages the Hylton Performing Arts Center – seeking security or camera footage from the March expo. It’s unclear whether footage exists.

Attorney General Jay Jones wants the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments over a license plate. In a Tuesday morning statement, Rae Pickett, a spokesperson for the state’s top lawyer, confirmed that “our office will file a (cert petition) on Oct. 29” in the matter of Whateley v. Lackey: a case that began when Lynchburg resident Curtis Whateley filed suit against the now-former commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles over a revoked vanity license plate that contained anti-law enforcement sentiment. Whateley believes that act violated his right to free speech. Jones and the Virginia DMV disagree. Whateley’s plate has been the subject of ongoing litigation for 21 months. Last May, former Attorney General Jason Miyares prevailed in district court, which ruled that officials had sweeping powers to censor vanity license plates. But in July, Jones’ office was defeated in federal appeals court. Now, Jones is asking the highest court in the land to weigh in.

Rare is the organization or occupation that doesn’t have a bad apple or two in its bunch. Journalism certainly does, and it’s incumbent on the rest of us to call out those who bring shame to our noble profession. Lawyers have an entire infrastructure — state bar associations — to deal with bad actors. The medical community, which heaven knows doesn’t get enough respect in modern society, has strict licensing procedures to deal with its renegades. In each case, the overwhelming majority do their jobs the right way and for the right reasons. First responders are no different. But their defenders need to accept when accountability is merited. That’s certainly the case as it relates to the events of Sept. 21 on South Church Street in Smithfield. Shaming those who ask legitimate questions doesn’t help your cause.