Oregon Public Broadcasting

Mayor Adams’ admission that he lied about a past sexual relationship with a teenager certainly  raises questions about Adams’ political future. But as Rob Manning reports, it also raises a question about the role Oregon’s leading media organizations play in policing its politicians.

In written statements, and in a lengthy press conference, Adams apologized for lying about having a sexual relationship with a teenager. But he admitted he was only coming forward due to pressure from the press.

Sam Adams: “As far as I knew, up until last Thursday, this issue, um, had sort of been - was in the past. But in an interview with Willamette Week, it was clear it was not.”

During last year's mayor's race, Adams was accused of having sex with Beau Breedlove when Breedlove was underage.

Tuesday, Adams said he met Breedlove two months before his 18th birthday, and didn't have sex with him until after he turned 18. Adams said he denied having any relationship because he feared people wouldn't believe he waited.

On one level, it’s a sensational story. A national headline could easily read: First openly gay mayor of major U.S. city admits sex with teenager.

But that headline misses the point, according to the Pulitzer prize-winning author of the story, Nigel Jaquiss.

Nigel Jaquiss: “This is not a story about sex, and it’s not a story about sexual preferences. The fact that Sam Adams is openly gay is really irrelevant to this story. This is a story about a politician who has lied, and who has then had to deal with that vulnerability.”

Jaquiss says he didn’t believe Adams and Breedlove sixteen months ago, when they both denied any sexual relationship. Jaquiss says three anonymous letters he received fueled his suspicions.

He had a number of off-the-record chats with Breedlove himself, but it was only recently that he got confirmation.

Nigel Jaquiss: “We would not go with a story this important, involving an issue this big, without named, on-the-record sources. That’s why it took so long.”

The story’s exact timing and subsequent public apology led to a surreal picture on television: Barack Obama’s inaugural parade in one corner, and Adams’ press conference in another.

But not everyone’s praising Willamette Week’s diligence. New city commissioner Amanda Fritz questions whether the public is served by the story.

University of Oregon journalism ethics professor, Tom Bivins, says the story unnecessarily delves into Adams’ private life.

Tom Bivins: “It’s sex between consenting adults, and quite honestly, I -- still rather old-fashioned in a way of adhering that old journalistic guideline -- if it doesn’t affect what they do in their public life, as a public official, it’s none of my business.”

But Adams himself has called the relationship “inappropriate.”

And Bivins admits that his opinion would change, if it turns out that Breedlove was 17, not 18, as Adams has said, when their sexual relationship began.