Senator Marshall,
I attended your so-called “Town Hall” in Oakley on March 1, and I had every reason to believe it would be a genuine meeting—a discussion with Kansans, with open questions and follow-ups. Instead, your insistence on pre-written, selectively chosen questions made it clear that you were steering the conversation to avoid real accountability.
Your misquotation of President Eisenhower was particularly insulting. Not only was it fabricated, but it also served as an attempt to silence us under the guise of his authority. Your dismissive suggestion that this event was only for “Oakley folk” was yet another slap in the face. My wife’s family—11 kids—were raised at 512 Freeman in Oakley.
I was raised in Hays, regularly practice law in Logan County, and have lifelong ties to the region. I sat with my wife, her brother, and a cousin, all from the area at the event. The crowd was full of Western Kansans, as well as others who cared enough to drive from across the state and stay overnight in local motels.
Your treatment of your own constituents was nothing short of rude and condescending. Your refusal to answer real questions, particularly about your unwavering loyalty to Donald Trump, made it clear that this was never intended to be a true town hall. It was a staged media opportunity for you. When it backfired, and Mr. Dunn gently called you out for supporting the unnecessary firing of thousands of veterans, you cut and ran.
Now, to the purpose of this letter: I demand an apology for the slander and libel you committed after the event. You falsely accused us of being “paid troublemakers” and “not real Kansans.” You ratified Trump’s smear of us, slandering me, my wife, our family, and every other person in that room—about 150 Kansans who showed up in good faith.
While Trump may be immune from accountability for his wrongful actions, you are not. I expect you to issue an apology with at least as much visibility as your original defamatory statements.
Since March 1, I have been looking for an opportunity to deliver this letter in person, but you have been avoiding public appearances. Your phones are set to screen out real Kansans, and you lack a residence in the state where this letter could be delivered. You fled Oakley that morning at 9:37 a.m., and you’ve been dodging accountability ever since.
I will keep trying to reach you. In the meantime, I have pledged to raise at least $100,000 in modest donations from real Kansans to support a candidate who actually represents us and will replace you in the U.S. Senate.
Govern your actions accordingly.
Sincerely,
John T. Bird
Attorney at Law
Hays