This morning, the News Journal reported on its website that the FBI is investigating how 60,000 text messages from Commissioner Jeff Bergosh’s personal cell phone ended up with the attorneys representing Dr. Rayme Edler, who is suing the county. Read Escambia’s fighting for control of 60,000 texts a commissioner claims were ‘stolen’ by a rival.
- Jonathan Owens, former Commissioner Doug Underhill’s aide, told PNJ reporter Jim Little that the messages were on a thumb drive left by an unknown person on his desk at his county office in 2022. Owens gave the messages to Edler’s attorneys.
On my radio show, Commissioner Bergosh explained how the county’s IT department got his text messages.
“I was having issues with my iPhone, specifically the Apple ID, and I was concerned that the few public records that are on my phone might be lost,” said Bergosh.
“I understand I’m the custodian of my own personal records that are on my personal devices, whether it be my phone or my home computer. So I went to the county’s IT department… and with their assistance was able to get it downloaded and get the phone stripped so that I could start all over again.”
Bergosh said he asked the IT department to delete the files after they gave him the records.
How did Bergosh’s personal texts end up on a thumb drive on Owens’ desk?
- Does, or did, a “deep state” exist in the county?
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Ironically, Bergosh thanked the IT department for their help during the commissioners’ forum at the board’s Feb. 10, 2022 meeting:
“And finally, the IT staff, Bart (Siders – head of IT) and James McCasland, we had a significant problem with my iPhone. It was operator error and my fault completely, but there were public records on my phone that had to be preserved.
“The staff stayed here till seven o’clock at night on my behalf and helped me with a solution that preserved the public records.
“I want to publicly thank you for that. Without your help and Mr. McCasland, I don’t know what would’ve happened, but now we’re back. We’re back on track. So thank you for your help.”
Definition of “Deep State:”
A body of people, typically influential members of government agencies, believed to be involved in the secret manipulation or control of government policy.