NEW: WPRO's John DePetro Claims He Was Threatened Says Lawyer

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Tuesday, December 03, 2013

GoLocalProv News Staff and Kate Nagle

In a statement issued by Providence Attorney Tim Dodd on behalf of radio talk show host John DePetro, DePetro is alleging that he was physically threatened by two individuals as he arrived for work. He believes the threats were tied to an ongoing effort by many RI union officials to have DePetro fired from his positions and/or advertisers to drop their sponsorships on his show

DePetro, who is a highly rated and controversial talk show host has been tied to many controversies in the past few years.

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Read attorney Dodd's statement and see the related articles below relating to DePetro.

STATEMENT REGARDING JOHN DEPETRO

This morning, December 3, 2013, John DePetro was physically confronted at the parking lot of his placement of work by two unknown individuals, threatening his personal safety and employment. Mr. DePetro immediately responded to the East Providence Police Department to report this unwarranted and unacceptable encounter.

Recently, John DePetro has become the target of a smear campaign, designed to incite hostility and violence against him and to slander him by intentionally spreading blatantly mischaracterized information.

This smear campaign against John DePetro stems from his criticisms of certain adults (both male and female) who were disrupting attendees (including many women) at a “Women Changing Rhode Island" fundraiser on behalf of General Treasurer, Gina Raimondo in September, 2013.

Mr. DePetro opined that many of these "protesters" had compromised their principals for
personal gain.

It is apparent that certain individuals would like to manipulate the public discourse regarding Mr. DePetro, so as to have him removed from his radio station.

However, Mr. DePetro believes that all citizens should be free to attend a political event and/or fundraiser without the fear of intimidation, retribution, threats of violence, or to run a gauntlet of unruly and threatening individuals to attend the scheduled event.

Mr. DePetro shall resolutely stand his ground to discuss issues of the day, expose the truth as he sees, identify the motives of individuals who oppose him, and he shall continue to speak out on issues of concern to all Rhode Islanders.

Regardless of the political agenda of certain individuals or groups, the threatening conduct and actions taken against John DePetro today, should be seen by all individuals and organizations to be unacceptable, as such bullying tactics have no place in the arena of public discourse.

Very truly yours,

Timothy J. Dodd, Esq.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In 2010, John DePetro was a MINDSETTER™ for GoLocalProv as part of a media partnership with Citadel Broadcasting - now part of Cumulus.

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