Judge orders far-left Portland official — who earns over $127K annually — to pay up on defaulted credit card accounts after she failed to appear in court

A judge in Multnomah County, Oregon, ruled that Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty — who earns more than $127,000 annually — must pay a credit card company more than $16,000 in overdue debts and fees after she failed to appear in court, KPTV-TV reported.

The far-left official has been a controversial figure in city politics. Having joined the bleating chorus calling for defunding police in 2020 — and specifically saying Portland cops should be pulled from 911 calls that don't involve crimes — Hardesty called 911 on a Lyft driver for canceling her ride late that year. Afterward she blamed her fear of "white supremacists" for her actions, despite residing in a far-left mecca.

What are the details on the judge's ruling?

Circuit Judge Judith Matarazzo issued default orders earlier this month on the heels of lawsuits Bank of America filed in November, KPTV said. Hardesty defaulted on two credit card accounts, the station said, citing documents.

In the first case, Matarazzo on March 21 approved a $4,900 lien against Hardesty, KPTV said, adding that an $11,700 penalty followed in a second case three days later.

The station said documents show neither Hardesty nor a legal representative appeared in court over the matter.

KPTV added that Portland budget filings show Hardesty made a six-figure salary over the last three years as an elected commissioner; the 2022-23 city budget shows Hardesty will make $127,712 this year.

Anything else?

In a matter allegedly related to Hardesty's defund-the-police push, in December she sued the police union, its former president, and an officer for $5 million after being falsely linked to a hit-and-run crash, KPTV said in a separate story.

A motorist in March 2021 told police Hardesty hit her vehicle, and the suit claims then-Portland Police Association President Brian Hunzenker leaked the false allegation to other city employees and the media, the station said, adding that Hunzenker later resigned. The suit also claims Officer Kerri Ottoman spread the allegation to a political action committee, KPTV said.

Hardesty was ruled out as a suspect the day after the crash, the station reported, adding that police earlier this year called their actions a misunderstanding.

However, Hardesty’s attorney said the leaks were motivated by the commissioner’s race and her opposition to police practices, KPTV said.

(H/T: The Police Tribune)