SALEM, Ore. — It took Robert Parker more than 30 years to get an official apology from the state legislature, but he’s still waiting to be made whole. The Oregon man would like the state to provide compensation after he was wrongly accused of misconduct while working as a legislative administrator in the 1980s.
“Enough is enough,” said Parker.
The saga started in May 1987. Parker served as administrator of the Senate Business, Housing and Finance Committee, under Oregon Senator Jim Hill, when allegations surfaced suggesting Parker had used his position for financial gain. Parker claimed it was a political hit job after he got in the way of big oil companies who didn’t want to see a bill benefiting local gas dealers move through Hill’s committee.
“Major oil vehemently opposed that legislation,” Parker explained.
The Oregon Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation. Parker resigned.
In the following months, Parker would be cleared by the Oregon Department of Justice and a Marion County grand jury, three different times. He was never convicted of doing anything wrong at the state legislature.
“They found nothing,” Parker explained. “I felt a sense of relief because I knew I had done nothing wrong.”
But his troubles continued. Investigative files were sent to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and the state bar — which prevented him from practicing law in Oregon.
His reputation was shattered.
“I literally know how it feels to be blackballed,” said Parker.
Discouraged, but not defeated — Parker fought back. He filed lawsuits against the state, the politicians involved, lobbyists and the oil companies. He challenged the establishment and worked to restore his personal and professional life.
In June 2021, the Oregon state legislature took a rare step. It apologized.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 found that "Robert Parker has engaged in no wrongdoing or unethical conduct" and provided him with an official apology for the "31 years of damage wrongfully done."
“We had a chance to be able to say, ‘The state made a mistake. There are people in the state who made a mistake here,'” explained Oregon Senator Lew Frederick, a driving force behind the 2021 apology.
“Oregon unfortunately has a history of racial discrimination that most folks don’t recognize,” said Frederick.
A few months later, the Oregon Supreme Court reversed its 1992 decision denying Parker admission to the state bar because he was unfit. He could finally practice law in Oregon after waiting nearly 30 years.
“Perhaps I’m still a little bit naïve, but I still believe in democracy. I still believe in our judicial process. I still believe that given time, we’ll get it right,” said Parker.
In February, Senate President Pro Tem James Manning sent a letter to Oregon Risk Management asking why Parker’s open lawsuits against the state have not been settled after the Oregon Legislature concluded it was wrong.
“My question to Risk Management is why?” wrote Sen. Manning.
In response, Risk Management said some of the cases are still being litigated by the Oregon Department of Justice, while others are beyond the statues of limitations.
Parker has asked the Oregon Attorney General’s office to step aside so an independent counsel can be appointed to assess damages and resolve all litigation.
“It should end with them taking responsibility for what the legislature has already acknowledged has happened,” said Parker. “Let’s get on with it.”