Aguirre blows up at Union-Tribune reporter

February 18, 2008 10:34 AM

By Eric Wolff

City Attorney Mike Aguirre totally lost his temper with Union-Tribune reporter Alex Roth at a press conference today.

Aguirre held the conference in Presidio park to discuss his re-election campaign. Roth was trying to get a few questions answered an upcoming story about the California state bar's investigation into Aguirre. Aguirre refused to answer. Later, Aguirre and Roth walked about 20 feet to one side and Aguirre began yelling at Roth. An alert NBC camera man captured the whole thing on tape, though the sound was poor because of the distance. Aguirre accused Roth of practically becoming part of the Scott Peters for City Attorney campaign and losing his credibility as a result.

 

"You've become part of the campaign. You've crossed over the line," Aguirre said.

 

At one point he tells Roth, "You should see a psychologist. Seriously, you're a young guy."

 

Later he asked Roth if he had any relationship with San Diego State University or KPBS, referring to Roth's coverage of Aguirre's accusations of corruption at KPBS. Roth's wife worked at the station two years ago, and Aguirre suggested Roth should have included that fact in his stories. Roth seemed to think that was not a sensible idea.

 

Roth and Aguirre have a tense relationship stemming from Roth's often critical coverage of the City Attorney. 

http://lastblogonearth.com/2008/02/18/aguirre-blows-up-at-union-tribune-reporter/