This behavior is destructive, antithetical to progress, and, yes, dangerous to our “democracy”.

by Kolby LaMarche

On Saturday, I asserted that Lee Morrigan, now a candidate for Burlington City Council, exploited a sensitive incident, embracing a complete victim identity, all to give fodder for an upcoming campaign.

However, as I have found, it isn’t just me saying it: Vermont’s Assistant Attorney General had similar criticisms of Morrigan.

In April of 2021, Morrigan attended a press conference hosted by the Barre Police Department to mark the one-year anniversary of Jean-Marie’s strange disappearance.

At that press conference, Morrigan became confrontational with Barre’s top cop Tim Bombardier. Morrigan claimed two sources confirmed the existence of footage from the motel, which may have well solved the case.

When the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office subpoenaed Morrigan to provide information regarding the motel footage, Morrigan refused and was charged with contempt.

On July 13, 2021, a Barre judge dismissed the charge against Morrigan. Celebrating, Morrigan wrote on Facebook “Case dismissed!”

But Vermont’s Assistant Attorney General, Rebecca Ronga, was anything but celebratory.

“Lee…you didn’t have a shred of actual information…why didn’t you just say that…lying to police about having information doesn’t make you a hero,” Ronga wrote in a comment on Morrigan’s post, “I am personally tired of you claiming to be a victim”.”

Ronga, in a second comment, continued “You did not call out anything all you did was spin a false narrative. And then you went straight victim mode when you got called out on YOUR behavior,” she said.

I am unsure of Assistant AG Ronga’s politics, although basic assumptions can be made. Nonetheless, I trust her when she says that Morrigan is bad news.

What Morrigan did in 2021 is extraordinarily reflective of what occurred over this past month. Add in the countless disruptions to proceedings and a pattern begins to form.

I am genuinely concerned for Lee Morrigan’s mental health. And I am doubly concerned that so many were so quick to feed into Morrigan’s spectacles.

Morrigan is an individual who, at many points throughout the past several years, has abused public officials and proceedings, stolen the limelight of a missing Barre man to make a quick headline, and completely blew out of proportion a disagreement on pronouns to set the stage for a campaign.

Morrigan’s histrionic behavior is destructive, antithetical to progress, and, yes, dangerous to our “democracy”.

Burning Sky is dedicated to providing critique and commentary on the issues of the day from an unapologetic perspective, fueling change in the heart of Vermont. Authored by Kolby LaMarche every Saturday.