1. Two years ago, Wally Pierce and Leslie Turk at Lafayette's The Ind published two reports on @RepClayHiggins' (a.k.a. @CaptClayHiggins) disciplinary file when he was a police officer in Opelousas. But the files were never uploaded in their entirety. Until tonight. Right here.
2. I've decided to publish these files because I think they both tell stories that voters in Louisiana's 3rd District and the American people need to read, unfiltered and directly from the source. But first...
3. Some background: Last year, in @newrepublic, journalist @pblest mentioned The Ind's work in his remarkable report, "Clay Higgins and the Rise of Trumpism in the GOP." newrepublic.com/article/143745…
4. Blest referred to The Ind's reporting- accurately- as a "little-noticed investigation." But it was important relevant. And no doubt, it's even more relevant now that this man is in Congress.
5. Here is the first report by Walter Pierce, titled "Clay Higgins resigned from OPD in 2007 on cusp of major disciplinary measures"
theind.com/article-24002-…
theind.com/article-24002-…
6. And there's the second one, published only four days before the election, by Leslie Turk, titled "Capt. Clay fails the fact-check."
theind.com/article-24189-…
theind.com/article-24189-…
7. So, now that you're caught up, here is the first 22 page file. It is about now-U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins' use of excessive force against an innocent man, and it reveals he deceived investigators. bayoubrief.com/wp-content/upl…
8. And here is the second 28 page file, which is about, among other things, now-U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins' purchases of cases of beer while in uniform and serving a 30-day suspension: bayoubrief.com/wp-content/upl…
9. I have redacted only the personal contact information, SSNs, ID, and badge numbers. All of the other identifying information included is either the address and phone number of the OPD or the locations of the incidents reported.
10. The people of Acadiana deserve to know the ways in which their Congressman abused his authority and violently attacked a man, who he repeatedly called a "pussy."
11. Finally, the first page of the second document: No, your eyes do not deceive you. There's a pretty prominent typo right at the top.
