“Shameful and unacceptable!”

The Guam Bar Association (GBA) is calling for an investigation into the alleged assault by Chief Deputy Attorney General Joe Guthrie on Guam Bar Association President Jacqueline Terlaje.

The incident occurred during a Civil Service Commission hearing, prompting leaders of the Guam Bar to demand Guthrie's removal from his position.

Retired Chief Deputy Attorney General, Phil Tydingco, expressed his disappointment with the incident, “This is unacceptable behavior and conduct unbecoming of the number two and he needs to be removed.”

Guam Bar Association officials confirmed today that Chief Deputy AG Joe Guthrie allegedly assaulted GBA President, Jacqueline Terlaje.

GBA Vice President, Attorney John Morrison also weighed in on the incident.

“He said that based on recent by law changes, he said that he wanted to ‘bash’ our heads in. ‘bash the heads and faces in of the powers that be.’ And when he inquired who the powers that be are, he informed her that its us, the board of Governors who’s the President.”

Morrison said despite repeatedly being told not to touch Terlaje, Guthrie allegedly lunged forward and kept trying to ‘get in her space.’

The Association says multiple people witnessed the scene, including the Deputy AG, Graham Botha, who allegedly had to pull Guthrie away from Terlaje.

The Commission was set to hear a post audit investigation that morning, filed by a former Administrative Supervisor with the AG’s office.

Terlaje is the lawyer of the former employee who’s fighting her reported termination. Morrison said,

“And in making this representation of her client, she interacted with Attorney Joe Guthrie with the office of the Attorney General. It’s our understanding in speaking to her that conversation started off light enough certainly professional at that point then things started to go down hill.”

Now, an assault complaint has been filed against Guthrie with the Guam Police Department.

Board members are calling for Guthrie to be disbarred and retired Chief Deputy Phillip Tydingco calls on the AG Doug Moylan to condemn Guthrie’s actions.

“For the number two person to become aggressive and assaultive that’s unacceptable. I challenge the Attorney General to make a decision whether this conduct is acceptable or not,” Tydingco said.

In response to the incident, AG Moylan shared with us,

“I am hearing through rumors and innuendo different versions of what happened. I was not present and have no personal knowledge what allegedly occurred between these attorneys one of whom is a manamko. Obviously, the allegations will need to be reviewed and the facts confirmed exactly what if anything actually occurred.”

Another member of the GBA, Attorney Jay Arriola comments,

”Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Botha were both present and he still doesn’t know what happened? 6 or 7 different witnesses saw those two attorneys there. And he still doesn’t know what happened”

Tydingco added being a senior citizen is no excuse to be violent. When asked if Guthrie has ever been violent in the past, Tydingco says no.

Arriola continued,

“Once is enough. We don’t need prior instances or more instances. We here it every other day even with our own bar. The deputy AG Gary Gumataotao was a victim of some type of violence, Attorney Jan Rubenstien was shot in the hallway at her office nearly 20 years ago. It hits close to home when our bar president is being assaulted in the halls of the Civil Service Commission.”

“Shameful. Shameful. Not once but twice. No means no. Don’t touch me, don’t even try to touch me.”

Meantime, GPD has yet to release details of the investigation.

In response to AG Moylan’s comment on the incident, Terlaje expressed, 

"I am offended by Attorney General Moylan's reference to Manamko. Guthrie is not a CHamoru man. Using the word Manamko is just a poor attempt to excuse violent, criminal and unethical behavior on age and culture. As a CHamoru woman, and a member of the Guam Bar Association, such minimization belittles the integrity I expect of our membership."