Sheriff Contradicts Self in Case Against Missouri Blogger

Joining Pima County (Ariz.) Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik on the list of county sheriffs taking a public relations beating in recent days is Greene County (Mo.) Sheriff Jim Arnott. Why? Because, it appears, he can’t keep his story straight.

Earlier today, I reported on the strange case of blogger Clay Bowler in my post, Conservative Missouri Blogger Victim of Witch Hunt. The story about the man behind the Bungalow Bill’s Conservative Wisdom blog was featured in a local newspaper article and in two local news videos — KSPR-TV and KY3-TV — before being linked by the Drudge Report and picked up by Glenn Beck’s The Blaze and Alex Jones’ Infowars. In short, Bowler became the target of a witch hunt this week after a complaint by recently-elected U.S. Rep. Billy Long — or someone in his office — prompted the FBI to visit him at his Ozark, Mo., home.

Late this morning, I watched video of Bowler’s interview Tuesday afternoon by an FBI agent — who asked not to be identified — and was accompanied by Sheriff Jim Arnott. Approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, which lasts almost 13 minutes, Sheriff Arnott said, “Just to kind of clarify, it wasn’t Mr. Long, (it was) his staff that came forward. He hasn’t said anything about you or anything.”

A few hours later, I talked with Bowler about his interview early this afternoon with NewsMax reporter David A. Patten. Bowler told me that, during his interview with Patten, the NewsMax reporter told him the sheriff said he was the one who called upon the FBI to investigate. Therein lies the contradiction.

On one day, Sheriff Arnott said one thing. A few days later, he said something completely different. Patten confirms as much in his interview with Bowler.

NOTE: Attempts to reach Sheriff Arnott for comment by phone and by e-mail were unsuccessful. According to his secretary, “He’s in a meeting.” Among other things, I wanted to ask him what he was doing in neighboring Christian County (Mo.) anyway. But I didn’t get the chance.