ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701200028
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
One had to wonder how nationally known attorney Gil Davis could continue to represent a local woman who opened him up to criticism and embarrassment.
Davis - the attorney for Paula Jones, the woman suing President Clinton for sexual harassment - answered that question Friday. He filed court papers in Henry County to try to terminate his legal responsibilities to Ramona Hines. A hearing will be scheduled this month, said Cindy Hays, Davis' publicist.
Davis is also one of four Republican candidates for state attorney general.
If his request is granted, he will be able to tell his side of the story about a video Hines made public this week.
He has been unable to respond, he said, because of attorney-client privacy restrictions.
In a statement issued Friday, Davis said that "I have done absolutely nothing wrong" and asked that "everyone ... withhold judgment until I have the legal right to defend myself and to present the true facts.''
Hines showed the video - which she recorded inside a room at the Roanoke Marriott more than two years ago - to a Roanoke Times reporter Tuesday. At the time the video was shot, Hines was garnering national media attention for a publicized affair she had with a co-worker at Channel 57 in Martinsville.
Starting in the summer of 1994, the saga played out for months on Channel 57's competing station, Henry County's thrill-a-minute Cable 6. It also landed Hines on the national talk-show circuit, including the Oprah Winfrey show.
Hines hired Davis, a former attorney for Cable 6 general manager Charles Roark, when she decided to sue Channel 57 after the station fired her in the midst of the zaniness.
Hines, who appeared frequently on Cable 6 to talk about her troubles, said workers there urged her to contact Playboy magazine about a possible photo layout.
On the videotape, Davis delved into the idea with Hines, whose husband, Glen, was also in the room.
"I know what you want to do," Davis said. "You want to take your clothes off."
Later, he told Hines to leave the situation in his hands.
Several times during the conversation, Davis said he would tell Hines more if she would turn off the camera.
The video is creating a buzz in Richmond, where the General Assembly is in session.
Del. Jay DeBoer, D-Petersburg, has even said he thinks Davis' conduct steps outside ethics boundaries for Virginia lawyers.
DeBoer, a lawyer, also said the video brings Davis' judgment into question.
"I've never met with a female client inside a hotel room," DeBoer said. "In fact, I've never met with any client inside a hotel room."
Hines, who lives in Pittsylvania County, could not be reached for comment Friday.
She hasn't released copies of the videotape, and is hoping to sell it to tabloid television shows.
She said Tuesday that she decided to show the tape to local reporters because it reveals a seamy side of Davis, who has been campaigning for women's rights as Paula Jones' attorney.
Hines also said Davis hasn't adequately represented her in the case against Channel 57.
Hays said Davis plans to respond as soon as he can.
"There will be additional statements," said Hays, who said she thinks Hines is an opportunist with no credibility. "This hasn't been very fun. We'd much rather be spending our time doing other things."
Hays said that Vic Gresham, who ran Davis' attorney general campaign outside the Northern Virginia area, resigned Thursday. The flap over the video was one of the reasons, she said, as well as conflicts with his personal life and the daily pressures of running a campaign.
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