An investigation alleged sexual misconduct between Mississippi Veterans Affairs Director Stacey Pickering and Deputy Director Melissa Wade. MSVA announced their resignations last week.
An employee investigated the allegations. The documented report states a cleaning lady went to Mr. Pickering's office to change the trash can liner. She knocked on the Executive Director's door "and no one answered." She was previously directed to obtain the spare master key from Ms. Wade in such an event. She went to Ms. Wade's office to retrieve the key and was undoubtedly surprised by what she discovered.
The report states the Executive Director and Chief of Staff were in a rather um, partially compromising position on a desk. The employee immediately left the office. The report states she told her supervisor what she witnessed.
Her supervisor "counseled her about barging in" to offices unannounced a few weeks later. The report states the Supervisor told her she would no longer "service MSVA's office suite."
The employee who reported the alleged misconduct to the Board was suspended with pay for thirty days after noticing the Director of the investigation in December. He submitted the report to the Board in January. The employee declined to comment but said he expects to file a lawsuit against the agency in the "very near future."
Deputy Director Mark Smith currently serves as Interim Director.
95 comments:
So now the state will be sued because of these two sinners.
Just more “Mississippi Values!” from the elite class of the MSGOP!
He apparently learning nothing from his cousin's marital indiscretions.
Governor Reeves, please step in. This Board is asleep. Veterans deserve better leadership.
@12:20
At least one lawsuit but probably several.
I am just waiting on the ole alienation of affection lawsuits by the spouses. Pickering doesn't have much, but the RV probably worth something.
Over the years have repeatedly emphasized to my adult male sons to resist all urges to think with their dicks.
His cousin Chip had the same affliction as well.
Oh Good Lawd....can no one keep it in their pants anymore? Females included!
Life imitating art? Wasn't this scene in an episode of "The Wire"?
12:21 : As if the Demonrats ain't doing the same thing here and there. Saw two cheaters yesterday at their "secret" meeting place. Both married both Dems. Both parties suck.
This has happened at a other State Agencies also & Administration was reassigned .
Was not interrupted by the first knock, went and retrieved a key unlocked door, damn that shigity must have been good for that staying power! Can you say viagra or a young stud!
Have fun at the depositions, Stacey!
Hunter would be proud-
taken down by a trash can liner-
And Pickering was still dedicated enough to add an additional two weeks WITH PAY until he resigned. Basically, I will do nothing for four weeks with pay instead of doing nothing for two weeks with pay.I hope I never hear his name again.
The initial response was to blame and punish the cleaning lady for doing her job. That, to me, is way worse than the affair. It indicates a culture of covering up wrongdoing, and should be investigated and rooted out.
Here is what I find as crazy. Who the f**k thought hiring Stacey Pickering was a good idea in the first place? What idiot saw Stacey Pickering and thought "This would be a good hire for us". This is like hiring Lumumba to coach Vanderbilt and thinking "I bet I can whip Nick Saban and Kirby Smart with this guy." Pickering is lazy and he's a snake. Damn our government needs to make better decisions.
And while I'm ranting, in a land of 300 million people, our election was Trump versus Biden for president, and Tate Reeves versus Jim Hood for governor. That's the best 2 we could find in each race. We are doomed.
Conservative Christian values. Mississippi has it in droves.
Imagine what Stacey’s indiscretions will cost the Mississippi in litigation. Bravo revered pickering. Quite a legacy to leave.
@102 - reading can be fun, but it does interfere with one's imagination.
Maid knocked on his door; no answer. Then went to her door, where they were.
Wasn't interrupted by a knock - unless you think a knock down the hall should count.
Wow.
So was it allegedly something like a stickering by a Pickering in an office?
To be fair, there are LOTS of other possibilities.
Maybe it takes more than an MBA to get ahead in Mississippi?
Not a surprise at all. They have been screwing the veterans for a long time.
1:02, can you not read? or were you just itching to make your joke that bad?
@12:37 PM - Who said that she was undressed, unless removing a face mask counts.
She was told not to "service" the MSVA director' office suite but he was being serviced daily.
If the cleaning lady is no longer allowed to enter the passion suite who will be wiping down the desk? We can't expect a big shot director to clean up his own mess, right?
Is the former director also a preacher?
The now former director is probably a veteran of this salacious conduct. (Extra points for "salacious")
Did Chaplain Pickering take his title as
Executive Director of the Mississippi Veterans AFFAIRS Board
a bit too literally?
Read with the post May 2019 timeline in your mind.
In Pickering’s defense, the agency is called Veterans Affairs. Since the term Veteran doesn’t really apply to him, he had to work extra hard to make sure the other term applied. Otherwise he would just be a second rate politician who doesn’t belong, and a third rate Pickering
Is Stacy too cheap to get a room say down at the Red Roof for a quickie?
Or do better at the King Edward?
Or really go for big money and go to the Westin?
1:40 : Big difference between a preacher and a man of God. The difference is that he's closer to Satan than God.
1:17 you are right on target, that’s the most damning of the crimes committed, they should be horse whipped for blaming her for getting caught.
On the MOVE
28 • Mississippi’s SALUTE
MSVA understands the importance of human capital.
Our leadership team is constantly striving to recruit and develop talent—and 2020 was no exception.
In 2020, MSVA was pleased to add new leaders to our ranks and to move existing employees into
exciting new roles. Featured are three such individuals who we felt were representative of the whole
MelissaWade Director of External Relations
Melissa Wade joined MSVA in May of 2019 as executive assistant to the executive director. Upon joining
MSVA, Melissa quickly distinguished herself as a leader by spearheading such initiatives as the Military
Women’s Summit, Suicide Prevention Month, and the second Sporting Clays Tournament, all while
managing the executive director’s demanding itinerary. In recognition of her stellar performance,
Melissa was named director of external relations in May 2020. In her new role, Melissa is responsible for
overseeing project management; communicating with the legislative leadership and the congressional
delegation; cultivating ongoing external relationships; and assisting with the promotion of the agency
to external groups and organization.
https://web.archive.org/web/20211126041657/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c534b122727be7fb7922414/t/60e77096c7ae427ca026cff8/1625780378505/Mississippi+Salute+Magazine+-+Spring+2021.pdf
Love how on the two previous posts Pickering's defenders were all about commenting about "no one knows all the facts" and "a lot of jealous people on here who don't know the real fact"
So JJ gave them some facts.
@ 2:28:
They fool around and they find out!
I hope the intern director burned the desk and purchased new furniture
That cleaning person did not accidentally catch these two. She meant to and probably knew what was going on. If you are working for a company, and the door is locked, you leave it locked. Will he still get his extra 2 weeks pay for continuing to do virtually nothing. Maybe we won’t have to see that Howdy Doody grin any more.
@ 2:49...
No, people that do these jobs just want to be left alone, they don't go looking for trouble.
What's with the Pickering Boys and marital affairs while being in public office? Something must be in the water down there. Wonder if the woman has a connection to CSpire too.
It takes two.
Jackson has some openings for laying pipe.
Appears the City of Jackson ain’t the only folk laying pipe.
Cleaning lady walks in on boss boning the help and cleaning lady gets fired. Unbelievable.
Former US Representative said them Republicans be having orgies! But this shigity takes it to another level, a Chaplin and the assistant, wonder did he bless this thing before of after.
I ain’t mad at the brother, just hope it was worth it! I know he’s telling his friends it just fake news and they will believe it!
But when that lawsuit comes to play and the State has to pay that cleaning lady, it will again be fake news! Believe what you want the two may have had an affair in the office, I just glad it wasn’t me.
Snitches get stiches and smart people, that tell, get paid.
Should have just given that cleaning lady one of them high paying jobs!!!
Poked fun and somebody took it serious, thank you to that person!
I usually put a chair under the lock just in case! We were both single and couldn’t wait to get home! I also miss the Holidays where everyone in the office bought in food and made mixed alcoholic beverages. Oh yea and them 1/2 days before the holiday.
Those were the good days in State Government.
These young people today aren’t mature enough to handle what we did back in the day! They talk to damn much and don’t let me start talking about them iPhones!
These "quickies" have been going on at all levels of government since humans decided government was what the village or cave needed.
Most are smart enough to at least make an effort to keep the proof hidden.
But then there are the idiots.
Idiots let janitorial folks walk-in. Idiots save seaman stained "blue dresses".
Idiots announce:
"Smells like ass in my office".
(Or whatever the exact phrase was ...)
Seems this Pickering guy is part of the brotherhood of the Idiot fraternity.
To 12:43 pm, cheating has nothing to do with political views. Both Republicans, Democrats and Independents have cheated.
Yes cheating is not political, it’s a symptom of weak character
Kingfish has always been real good about identifying people, allowing their facebook pages to be advertised and remarking, generally, on things that identify folks thought to be culprits.For some reason he doesn't want to allow her facebook page or Linkeden account to be posted here. Hmmm.
Can anyone explain how such a small agency that 90% of the state is unaware of has one of the highest executive director $150,000) highest paid personnel director ($100,000) and one of the highest paid in house attorneys ($115,000). Compare that to 2018 under the last leadership where is was Exec $110,00, personnel officer $60,000, attorney $60,000. Did they when the lottery or something? Who is on this Board?
@6:58. I’ve known Stacey for 25 years. I assure you that he doesn’t have weak character. Instead, he has no character. I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.
@8:01pm - Inflation dawg
@ 9:02
Inflation would put those figures at:
$126,647.17
$69,080.27
dawg
tihs post has achieved the JJ GOLD standard of over 50 comments in 9 hours.
nothing you green teeth love more than a sex scandal.
This creep will soon draw a big ole PERS check, 13 times a year
this is a real upstroke for veterans affairs.
Governor needs to ask for resignations from the Board, fire everyone in the leadership, and invite Shad in to audit the agency top to bottom.
I am convinced that there are two required courses in Baptist seminary: Sloth and Infidelity. Evidently, he aced both.
That seems to be a problem in the Pickering family.
It’s funny how some of you people keep thinking Shad White is some white knight that’s going to clean up MS govt. He’s got his own problems now and short of hammering some poor old county clerk for $1500, he’s not gonna touch anything of a highly political nature.
The board was aware of the sexual allegations between Stacey and Wade as early as January. They were also aware of the employment retaliation. After an internal investigation, they allowed Stacey and Mrs. wade to resign as indicated in the press release. Did they not realize the legal exposure they have opened themselves up to? The entire board needs to be replaced asap. What a disaster.
Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice makes criminal the act of adultery
9:35 : Yep.
@9:35 & 1012
Isn't the Air Guard State Jag a member of this board?
This is comment number 69, nice.
Why the hell can't a picture of this woman be found anywhere? The news stories put his ugly mug on it when all we want to know is what this woman looks like that he’s been shagging.
Hey, Yankee jack-wagon - you are on here reading this story along with all us “green teeths”. At least have the honesty to admit you like salacious stories too. Hypocrite. Must be from one of those New England states.
Ha ! Made it to 69 comments.
Is it just a coincidence that the next blog story is about “laying pipe”?
So, I am confused. The MSVA Board, which meets once a month, looked into the concerns and determined the Agency needed to go in another direction with its leadership and a refocus on its core mission. The Board allowed resignations and leave time, and will search for a new director. So, those who desired a change in leadership have seen that it is occurring. It seems like the pint of blood desired has become a gallon or more from Stacey. It may be past time to move to a more exciting story than who may or may not have had a sexual encounter.
No doxxing allowed. That means no posting names of family members, where the subjects might have worked in the past, and other information that has nothing to do with the story. The privacy of the family members should be respected whenever possible. Thanks.
I am retired, but I think I can work into my schedule a job that requires me to work one or two days a month.
As a long term public servant, 30 years DFA/SPB I have two questions after reading this series of posts:
1 Who is the Personnel Officer?
2 Is he/she being held accountable?
No agency head can catapult someone to the top like that and with those raises without complicity from personnel. It’s why the personnel system was set up the way it is, checks and balances.
Can only assume it has to do with the figures quoted by @ 8:01 pm
@8:35 and lack of board oversight
Also would be wise to have a Board Attorney at meetings like every other public body to prevent dumb decisions
I worked there before Pickering when it was VAB. There was always an AG attorney assigned to the agency which provided another layer of oversight. I guess that is one of the things Pickering changed. Wonder why . . .
So ends a dubious and undistinguished career on the state dole
Does the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board have agendas for their meetings?
Does the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board keep minutes of the meetings?
Does the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board approve minutes of previous meetings after reviewing?
Has K.F. requested these?
@1:59
The agency’s in house counsel, not an AG, doesn’t understand public meetings or Robert’s rules and let’s the board discuss anything during executive session. Everything is a “personnel matter.”
Agenda is free breakfast. Catered, not the pathetic food they serve the residents
@2:20
Tell that to the people whose careers were ruined because of his character defects
ITS Never good to get a little behind in your work
11:37, the in-house attorney may be the result of Lynn Fitch having removed AG attorneys from State agencies soon after she took office.
Can Personnel questioned him when he appointed Melissa Wade as Chief of Staff? She moved up very quickly when he took over. I mean, how can you question your own boss? Then you’ll be targeted.
to 8;35......to answer you 2nd question..........no one in government is ever held accountable for anything.
thats precisely why everybody want to work for the government........no matter how bad you screw it up you are never held accountable.
you didn't know that?
@7:04
Guess I need to notify the AG attorney who works down the hall. My agency didn’t get that memo
if the employee declined to comment then what is the source? KF is getting played.
KF is getting played Executive Director Pickering quit his high paying state job...NOTHING TO SEE!
You just know somethangs wrong when you see a big hog knocked off their feed trough!
@11:12 & 12:25, you should re-read the post. You got this. Only 3 paragraphs - perhaps you are getting played by your lack of comprehension skills. Hint: Gender Pronouns. Definitely plenty to see, just wait. Seriously.
If the campaign finance RV is rockin' . . .
"... Gas or Grass. Nobody rides for free!" bumpersticker...
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