PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was not involved in a hit-and-run crash, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said late Thursday afternoon. During a video news conference earlier in the afternoon, Hardesty strongly denied the allegation and called it a coordinated smear campaign.
“I want to be very clear. There is an accusation that threatens to damage my reputation as a city council member and as the transportation commissioner," said Hardesty. "The allegations are false. I have not driven my car in the last 24 hours. In fact, my car is inoperable."
According to a news release from PPB, a 911 caller reported being rear-ended in on Wednesday afternoon around 4:48 p.m. near the intersection of Southeast 148th Avenue and East Burnside Street. The caller believed the suspect was Commissioner Hardesty. A police investigation ruled out Hardesty as a suspect.
Hours earlier, the commissioner told members of the media that her Volkswagen Passat has been sitting in the same spot outside her home for about six months. One of the car's door locks is broken, she said, and the car's battery is dead. In addition, she said she did not leave her home all day Wednesday and she has no other cars.
"When you have taken on police accountability issues as long as I have, you come to expect these kind of attacks," Hardesty said. "This is a normal tactic used to discredit people."
Hardesty said she had not been contacted by police regarding the crash and she hopes PPB will "vigorously investigate these false allegations."
"I didn't hit anybody. I wasn't driving. No one drove my car," said Hardesty.
Hardesty released another statement Thursday evening after Portland police said she had no involvement in the hit-and-run. Here's the full statement:
Today began with an unnecessary burden put on my office to disprove a completely false accusation. Now the Portland Police Bureau has admitted what we knew all along – I was not involved in any way with any hit and run incident and am not a suspect.
While I am relieved to see the truth prevail, this incident brings up a number of urgent questions that I want answers to.
How did this false information get leaked to the Oregonian and fringe right wing media groups?
Why did the Oregonian run this story with no proof to substantiate the false allegation?
Will the 911 call and police report be released to myself and the media?
What was the relationship between the 911 call and the police report?
I’m demanding an investigation so we can get to the bottom of where this smear campaign originated.
I’ve always said that we can disagree without being disagreeable. This kind of personal attack, based on false accusations that were perpetuated by elements of the media, is hurtful. When I have made mistakes in the past, I have owned it, taken responsibility, and apologized. I hope those that brought this harm to me and my office today will feel compelled to do the same.