Hard to believe a seasoned, lifetime politician such as Democrat Gov. Janet Mills can’t come up with a good answer to a simple question.
In fact, her inability to do that could be a real challenge in her current bid for the U.S. Senate seat she covets.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Maine Wire’s Jon Fetherston showed up at her Augusta office – in a respectable, fine-tailored suit no less – to ask Mills about the Epstein thing.
The intrepid-but-ever-cordial Fetherston approached the office’s reception desk with his query.
“Hi, how are you,” he asked the receptionist. “I was wondering if I could talk to somebody – I’m Jon from The Maine Wire – on the staff about Governor Mills appearing in the Epstein files. I was wondering if anybody could give me a comment on that?”
“I’ll have you take a seat in the lobby,” the receptionist replied.
“I appreciate that,” Fetherston said. Thank you.”
Momentarily a kindly bespectacled Mills frontman came out to greet the laid-back inquisitor.
“Good to see you again” Fetherston said, extending his hand. “How you been?”
In reply the frontman asked Fetherston how he was.
“Not bad, thanks for coming out,” the scary reporter replied in kind. “It was very cursory, I know, but Governor Mills showed up in the Epstein files and I was just wondering if you guys are going to put out an official statement.”
“Shoot me an email and I’m happy to take a look at it,” the frontman replied.
“Shoot you an email – OK, great to see you, thank you,” Fetherston answered, again extending his hand.
Frontman turns on his heel and returns to the safety of the inner confines.
“So, here we are outside Governor Mills’ office again,” Fetherston said, facing The Maine Wire camera. “The standard operating procedure – ‘shoot me an email and I’ll take a look at it.’
“So in other words,” he added, “we don’t get any confirmation, we don’t get any acknowledgment that Governor Mills is actually, and factually, in the Epstein files.
“‘Just shoot me an email and I’ll see if I’ll take a look at it.’ That is the standard operating procedure here in Augusta at Governor Mills’ office.
“Doesn’t want to talk about Gateway Communities, and doesn’t want to talk about being in the Epstein files.
“Check back with The Maine Wire for updates. I’m Jon Fetherston.”
If Mills were smart, she’d invite Fetherston into her office, extend her hand, and welcome him in.
Then here’s what in theory could go down:
“Hi Governor, Jon Fetherston with The Maine Wire, really appreciate your giving me some time out of your very busy day.”
“Absolutely, Jon, what’s up?” the governor of Maine (who’s in a tough race for the U.S. Senate) could simply ask.
“Just wondering if I could get a comment on your mention in the Epstein files, ” Fetherston would reply.
“Oh, sure,” the governor could say. “I really appreciate your reaching out for my side of this.”
Then the easy part for the governor.
“Listen, Jon, I know the media has a lot of interest in stuff like this but honestly? I’m not sure Mainers who are trying to make ends meet are too worried about the Epstein files.”
She could actually say it with a smile, easing the tension, and then she could add:
“I meet with folks all the time, average Mainers – single mothers who are having trouble putting three squares on the table every day for their children.
“My focus has to be on trying to make lives easier for every Mainer – man, woman and child.
“So much as I know this Epstein thing is in the news I’m just going to leave it at that and thank you very much for coming in to hear me out.”
Fetherston would probably reply that he thinks the governor should have more to say about it.
Then she could say “again, I appreciate it, but I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Heck, she could even use that canned response if she so chooses to questions about the Gateway Communities scandal.
Not the best approach for a politician looking for voters to give her yet another taxpayer-financed job, but it is a start.
Fetherston, being the gentleman and smart guy he is, would extend his hand and say “thank you governor, I really appreciate your taking the time with me.”
That, in a nutshell, is how the governor of Maine could help get rid of some of the baggage that she’s facing as she’s looking for a political promotion from state to federal office.
Easy layup, piece of cake, a way to help endear herself to her critics, but she apparently won’t do it.
“Check back with The Maine Wire for updates. I’m Jon Fetherston.”
Between Robinson and Fetherston, one of them is due a Pulitzer in journalism.