Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee’s office gave a state representative’s personal cell phone number to Gabrielle Giffords so that she could lobby for gun control legislation, according to KING-5 bureau chief Drew Mikkelsen.
The Seattle Times reports that Inslee asked Giffords to call holdouts against the legislation.
Gov. Jay Inslee has asked former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords to call a group of Washington state lawmakers who have not yet decided whether to support a contentious proposal to require background checks for all gun sales.
Giffords, a moderate Democrat from Arizona, resigned last January — about a year after being shot in the head at a supermarket near Tucson. She has since become an advocate for stricter gun laws.
Republican Rep. Maureen Walsh, a key vote against universal background check legislation, says her privacy was violated. Mikkelsen reports that the governor’s office has apologized.
@GovInslee looking for support for gun background check bill. Talking w/ Rep. Maureen Walsh, R, a key vote. #waleg pic.twitter.com/0AwvKoPfC1
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) March 11, 2013
Rep. Walsh, R-Walla Walla, thought it was "inappropriate" for @govinslee to share her personal cell number w/ Rep. Gabby Giffords #waleg
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) March 11, 2013
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@govinslee spokesperson says office issued apology to #waleg Rep. Maureen Walsh for sharing personal cell number with Rep. Gabby Giffords.
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) March 11, 2013
Rep. Giffords called #waleg Rep. Walsh encouraging support for gun background checks. We have the voicemail in our story at 5 @KING5Seattle
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) March 11, 2013
Was it an honest mistake?
Here's story on @govinslee giving a Rep.'s personal cell number to Gabby Giffords. Spokesperson said didn't know it was private #. #waleg
— Drew Mikkelsen (@drewmikkelsenk5) March 12, 2013
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