In all that has been written about the Gang of 5 text message saga – which involves a bitterly divided Cincinnati City Council, illegal text messages between five members, a violation of Ohio law and a criminal investigation –one facet has long been overlooked: the pain of Christopher Smitherman.
He's not one of the five councilmembers involved in the 2018 case.
But the vice mayor has long been hurt and upset at a particular exchange in the texts in which he is accused of using his wife's cancer diagnosis and death for political gains.
Over the past almost three years Smitherman's anguish hasn't dimmed. His wife, Pamela Smitherman, died in January of 2019. Smitherman talks about his anger with the Gang of 5 from time to time on the council floor or on talk radio appearances.
But on Tuesday, during a Cincinnati City Council committee meeting, something unusual happened: Another councilman, Greg Landsman, one of the Gang of 5, apologized. And the two had an unplanned, heartfelt and emotional exchange on live video. It ended with thanks and forgiveness.
Amidst a discussion about whether more text messages from those long ago text exchanges should be released, Councilman Greg Landsman paused, spoke directly to Smitherman, and apologized. It wasn't Landsman who made the political claim and Landsman never even said anything derogatory about Smitherman, but he's the first of the five to apologize to Smitherman.
Landsman and Smitherman were talking via video conference. They made reference to private conversations they've had, but this was very public. The exchange between them -- and nobody interrupted them -- was raw, heartfelt and real.
Landsman: "I’ve said it to you privately. Let me say it to you publicly, what you have gone through, you and your family, is unimaginable, the pain. For me, I’ve been thinking a lot about it. You and your family have been in my thoughts and prayers. As I’ve said, I am truly sorry that this all of this happened, and did so in a way that was so hurtful. I wish I could go back in time and change some of that...”
Smitherman: "There was so much information there that my family was in hell ... Let me say to you, you are the first member of the Gang of 5, the first member of Council involved in this who has publicly apologized to me. I am a man of faith. I really am. I do my best... I think your comments are the beginning of turning the page with me...I think we are turning a very big page here today for me, and my family, my kids, my mother, Barbara Smitherman... I think Councilman Landsman, you brought tremendous dignity today ... I have been waiting for someone who was part of this to come to the well of council and embrace humanity to their colleague and just say, 'Listen Smitherman, I’m sorry. I missed it. And I am able to say I forgive you. I am thankful you’ve taken the time, at this meeting, at this date, to publicly extend your apology to me and my family for any involvement that you have ... I will just accept your apology. I look forward to working with you and moving on. I hope people in the community view this exchange that we’re having publicly as a real step forward for this council. So I thank you for that."
Landsman: “It was a very heated, contentious time. I was thinking about myself in a way that … I was frustrated for what I was going through. I didn’t take the time to appreciate how severe the suffering you and your family were going through. I’ll be forever sorry for that."
Smitherman: "...It’s an emotional moment for me. I appreciate our colleagues allowing us to have this exchange… I believe in forgiveness and I forgive you."
The exchange lasted 14 minutes. Then they went back to the business of Law and Public Safety Committee.
More:Christopher Smitherman, activist, councilman, is a caregiver, too
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