Editorial by Carl Goldman

Democratic State Senatorial Candidate, Kipp Mueller has refused to respond to allegations made in an article last week claiming he never was a former Federal or California Criminal Prosecutor. Kipp Mueller should either answer these allegations or immediately withdraw from the race against former California Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares.

In a thoroughly detailed article written by investigative journalist, Jennifer Van Laar published last week in Red State, Van Larr accuses Kipp Mueller of lying about his employment as a Federal and State prosecutor. These allegations have gone unanswered in detail as Kipp Mueller refuses to respond.

Kipp Mueller’s current website and television political ads are headlined, stating he’s a former criminal prosecutor. In newspaper columns he has claimed he personally prosecuted criminal cases.

Apparently, Kipp Mueller never prosecuted either a Federal or State criminal case. Television ads and his home page of his campaign website continue to highlight this false claim. In fact, it is his main talking point. Apparently avoiding any accountability for his lies and going into hiding has become Kipp Mueller’s new playbook.

Screenshot of Kipp Mueller’s Website taken 9-9-24

Here’s Kipp Mueller’s current political campaign television ad, still currently airing and still posted on YouTube as of 9-8-24. )

Well, Kipp Mueller, this media outlet won’t be running defense for you. When the allegations first came out, KHTS/Hometownstation.com gave you an opportunity to respond to our questions. We even allowed you to print your response, giving you time to craft answers so we couldn’t be accused of any “got you” reporting. You chose not to respond. It’s now been one week, and not only have you remained silent, but you also continue to make false claims about your qualifications. Shame on you.

You must think the voters are either stupid or just won’t pay any attention to your character. Apparently, you believe a few will just automatically put a check mark next to your name because it has a big “D’ next to it.

Not only have you painted a false picture about your credentials, but you also haven’t been honest about your opponent, former Republican Assemblywoman, Suzette Valladares. Your political ads paint Valladares as a right-wing extremist, but her voting record shows she’s a very moderate Republican.

Valladares was a stellar representative for the Santa Clarita Valley. We believe she will make an effective Senator. She has the endorsement of California State Senator Scott Wilk who will be termed out in November. Wilk has a proven track record throughout his many years of representing us in Sacramento. Wilk and Valladares were a powerful team in Sacramento representing Santa Clarita while she was in office.

According to the Red State article, Kipp Mueller only served as an extern at the DOJ (Department of Justice) while in Washington DC, and as an intern when he worked for the state. In both instances, he hadn’t yet passed the California Bar, making it impossible for him to plea in front of any judge.

Kipp Mueller’s only admission to date has been to the Santa Clarita Signal, admitting he was an extern for the DOJ while he was attending Columbia Law school, and later as a “clerk” for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. There is nothing in the article that defends his deception or hints of an apology.

The Signal has since pulled down Kipp Mueller’s previous columns because “Mueller’s description of himself has come into question.”

KHTS/Hometownstation.com demands Kipp Mueller or his campaign team answer 4 questions in writing, allowing him an opportunity to craft his answers. Since you won’t talk to us, Kipp Mueller, write a press release defending your actions. We’ll publish it.

Kipp Mueller owes it to the voters to explain his position. By ducking these simple questions, Kipp Mueller accentuates his poor actions and continues to vastly exaggerate his embellishments. It’s time he came clean with his record, or he should drop out of the race. Here again, are our four questions.

1. What Federal and California cases did you personally prosecute in a courtroom?
2. Can you provide the case name and court number of the PC 288 sex crimes you referred to in an article published by the Santa Clarita Signal newspaper?
3. What is your response to the allegations made by reporter Jennifer Van Laar in her Red State article?
4. During the 2020 campaign you advocated to “Defund the police.”  Now you want criminals to be accountable. Do you still want to “Defund the police?” If not, what has changed your mind?

Since Kipp Mueller already admitted he was dishonest about his qualifications, he owes it to the voters to remove his false claims from his political ads and website, apologize, and demonstrate to us why he would still be a good choice to be our representative. He should have done this one week ago when the truth came to light.

Kipp Mueller has demonstrated he would be an extremely poor choice as our state representative. Since he won’t respond to us, one of the two main media outlets in our valley, perhaps you can ask him these questions if you bump into him on the campaign trail.

When you cast your ballot on November 5th, KHTS/Hometownstation.com  urges you to send a message to Kipp Mueller and any future politician who feels the mainstream media will run protective cover for them. Vote for Suzette Valladares. And if it’s not in your DNA to move your hand next to any candidate with an “R” in front of their name, please leave the ballot position blank.

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