State lands commissioner Douglas Sutherland—the state official who sexually harassed a young female employee several years ago, a story the two Seattle daily papers knew about for four months but ignored—has issued a statement in response to the story, which David Goldstein broke on Horse’s Ass two days ago. The statement essentially blames Sutherland’s opponent in his race for reelection, Peter Goldmark, for allowing the story to come to light.

Ultimately people will judge for themselves, but it provides a clear contrast between Doug and the opponent’s campaign. The documents show that even though he knew the political difficulty such allegations could cause, Doug’s first concern was for the woman who was made uncomfortable. The woman was asked what steps would help resolve the issue and Doug and DNR agreed to do all of those things.

In contrast, Doug’s opponent, his supporters and a liberal blog sent the information out without speaking with the woman or expressing concern that this might put her in a position she did not ask to be in – using a private matter as a political weapon in a campaign. Indeed, the Seattle Times noted that “She has not responded to interview requests.” Additionally, Goldmark’s supporters even went so far as to try and hide their involvement by arranging a deal that they not be identified by the media outlets to whom they leaked the documents.

The contrast between Doug’s efforts to address the mistake he made by being too informal and apologize and the unauthorized use of a personal matter by Doug’s opponent without considering the position it put the woman in, says a lot about why so many have expressed their support for Doug prior to this story and why so many have called to reiterate that support today.

Just to reiterate: The two incidents Sutherland glibly describes as “being too informal” involved, according to multiple eyewitnesses quoted in the documents Sutherland refers to, the lands commissioner running his hands all over the woman’s back and waist, commenting that she had “great parts,” and saying something to the effect that he was “just looking.” “Informal” is one word for that.

In other Sutherland-related news, the Seattle Times has changed the headline on its Sutherland story, which managed to mention not one but five times in the story, headline, and subhead that Sutherland apologized for sexually harassing the woman. The old headline: “Washington public-lands commissioner apologized after complaint by employee.” The new one: “WA official was subject of harassment complaint.”

They took out four of the five references to Sutherland’s apology, too—including the reference to the woman’s decision to resign “despite [Sutherland’s] formal apology.”