The fiancée of former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber is taking aim at the media while at the same time letting her consulting clients know she's open for business.
Hayes served as Oregon's first lady until Kitzhaber resigned in February, just a month into his fourth term as Oregon governor. The two are the subject of a federal influence peddling probe.
Hayes has said little publicly since Kitzhaber left office. She's been locked in a legal battle with The Oregonian over whether she needs to release thousands of emails. A judge ruled that many of those emails are public records.
In a post on her blog, Hayes accuses the publication of using her emails "to make false allegations and print misinformation."
"I have kept silent on this issue for too long,” Hayes wrote. “I feel it is now past time for me to use my voice to defend myself and try to prevent this publication from taking advantage of my silence."
In an email to clients of her green energy consulting firm Hayes referred indirectly to her legal battles, calling them “significant challenges.”
"I am thrilled to report that things are settling down," Hayes wrote. "And I am fully reengaging my professional new economy work.”