Ken Hutcherson - Latvia Controversy

Latvia Controversy

On March 21, 2007, Seattle attorney Dave Coffman filed a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation asking them to investigate whether or not Pastor Hutcherson violated federal law by claiming to be a White House "Special Envoy" on a 2007 trip to Latvia. Hutcherson claims his work and trip were sanctioned by the Bush White House. The trip was the centerpiece of a four-day anti-gay-rights "crisis conference" held in Latvia.

Hutcherson claims that the director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Jay Hein appointed him as a "special envoy" for the Latvia trip, where he appeared with Scott Lively, an opponent of LGBT civil rights and author, with Kevin Abrams, of the book The Pink Swastika which purports to document the role of homosexuals in the formation of the Nazi Party and the administration of the Third Reich.

According to Eli Sanders of the Seattle alternative weekly newspaper The Stranger, who spoke to an agent at the FBI, the agency does investigate allegations that people have represented themselves as speaking for the White House.

Hutcherson has claimed that he was made a Special Envoy for Adoptions, Family Values, Religious Freedom, and Medical Relief by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

White House spokesperson Alyssa J. McLenning communicated to the newspaper that Hutcherson was never given the title of Special Envoy. In her statement, McLenning wrote "The White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives did not give Hutcherson the title, 'Special Envoy for Adoptions, Family Values, Religious Freedom, and Medical Relief.' The White House did not give Hutcherson any other titles and did not coordinate with Hutcherson on his recent trip to Latvia."

Hutcherson claims the White House is lying and told The Stranger that they should speak with Hein, who met with him at the White House and in Seattle.

Hutcherson claims to have met with Hein at least twice in person about this partnership, once in January 2007 in Seattle, and once in February 2007 at the White House. Hutcherson said of the title and partnership relating to his work in Latvia, "In my meetings, I can represent as being with them (the Bush White House) and having the power I need to get things done."

Hutcherson claims there is a video that was shot after a meeting on 8 February 2007 at the White House between himself; Jay Hein; and Alexei Ledyaev, pastor of New Generation Church in Riga, Latvia.

Hutcherson said this White House meeting was the second of two meetings he had with Hein about his plans in Latvia. The first meeting, according to Hutcherson, took place on January 18, 2007 during a conference in Seattle on faith-based initiatives that was attended by Hein.

"That was when he made his first commitment to me and said it was a done deal," Hutcherson told me. Hutcherson describes the "done deal" as "our partnership." Hutcherson claims requested the first meeting with Hein because "I just wanted Faith-Based to give me the power to do what I needed to do" and that "the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives did just that." according to Hutcherson.

Hutcherson claims that in the video from the second meeting on February 8, 2007 in Washington D.C., the three men—Hutcherson, Hein, and Ledyaev—are standing on the White House lawn answering questions from a Latvian television reporter. Hutcherson claims the video will show that Hein met with him, knew of his new title, and approved of his mission to Latvia. Hutcherson told the Seattle Stranger newspaper "I’m gonna prove that I had those meetings, I’m gonna prove that I got that title behind me, and I’m gonna show you the video that says I was coming to Latvia and the purpose why."