Former Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Baker responds months after firestorm of allegations on local podcast
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IDAHO FALLS — The former CEO of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce has retained an attorney and issued a statement following months of allegations that were discussed on a local podcast.
Paul Baker, the former CEO, resigned on Friday, July 3, after allegations of misappropriation of funds were discussed on the IFAF podcast, hosted by Mike Nelson and Karley Morgan in Idaho Falls.
On Monday, Baker sent a statement to EastIdahoNews.com about the allegations through his attorney, John Malek, condemning the podcast and alleging defamation.
“Over the past several months, our client, Paul Baker, has been the subject of repeated public allegations by the hosts of the IFAF Podcast concerning his conduct and financial matters related to the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Baker categorically denies these allegations and any suggestion of financial wrongdoing or other misconduct,” says the statement.
On June 8, the hosts of the podcast uploaded an episode in which they announced that a whistleblower had contacted them with questions about Baker and his actions at the Chamber of Commerce.
The hosts read the questions and discussed them over multiple episodes, covering the chamber’s finances, Baker’s past, and an internal audit conducted by the chamber following the allegations. The results of the audit are not publicly available at this time.
The hosts also discussed the charging of Cristie Stone, the former president of the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club and Baker’s girlfriend. Stone is charged with one count of felony grand theft, alleging that she embezzled over $219,000 from the club.
Baker was previously the club’s executive director. Local authorities have not indicated Baker is involved in Stone’s embezzlement case.
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The statement from Baker does not specifically list examples of defamation.
“Mr. Baker has now retained John Malek Law Group, PLLC to address the false and defamatory allegations made against him and to evaluate and pursue all appropriate legal remedies,” says the statement. “We are calling on IFAF Podcast hosts Mike Nelson and Karley Morgan to retract their allegations and issue a public correction and apology.”
After Baker’s resignation, EastIdahoNews.com attempted to reach out to him and other board members multiple times for comment on the situation, but did not receive a response.
In the statement, Baker’s attorney says his client decided to resign to protect the Chamber and allow it to move forward.
“(Baker) believes stepping aside was the appropriate course of action to protect the organization and allow it to move forward without continued distraction surrounding these allegations,” says the statement. “However, the podcast hosts have continued to make public attacks against the Chamber and its members. We are therefore taking action to ensure that this false and misleading narrative concerning alleged financial misconduct is not left unanswered or allowed to stand unchallenged.”
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Nelson for a comment on Baker’s statement, which accuses him and Morgan of false and defamatory allegations. He sent us the following statement:
“The IFAF Podcast and its hosts Mike Nelson and Karley Morgan categorically deny any wrongdoing.
Despite repeatedly calling our reporting and commentary “false and defamatory,” Mr. Baker has yet to identify a single actual statement made on IFAF that is false, much less defamatory. Nor has he addressed the substantive concerns that have been raised. Instead, he has chosen to attack the people raising them.
If Mr. Baker believes we got something wrong, he is welcome to identify the specific statement and provide the facts that correct it. Until then, we will not be intimidated by vague legal threats or deterred from speaking about matters of legitimate public interest.”
There are no current legal filings related to these defamation claims.