Levi Seeks Publicity Instead of Tripp's Well-being

Yesterday we learned that Bristol Palin, Governor Palin's eldest daughter, filed for sole custody of her son, Tripp E. Johnston-Palin, in early November of this year. This should never have been reported on in the first place. Bristol, who has borne all of Levi's attention-seeking lies and antics with quiet dignity, didn't want to publicize this at all. But Levi pushed to have it open to the public. Why would he want this custody proceeding to be played out in public? The answer is pretty simple and obvious: because he wants the media attention. It's his bread and butter after all. He makes his living lying about the Palins. In her affidavit, Bristol made a compelling argument for keeping the custody proceedings closed to the public:

Due to the overwhelming media interest in my family and in Levi Johnston, I believe it would be in Tripp's best interest for this custody matter to be closed, and for everyone associated with this case to refrain from talking to the media about this case.

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I believe that despite everyone's best intentions to remain civil in this case, media involvement will have a negative impact on this matter, and a negative impact on Tripp. In this day and age of the internet, media stories remain available for years, even decades, after they are first published, and anything printed in the media (whether it is true or not) will be available to Tripp when he is old enough to read.

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I do not believe that subjecting a one year old child to intense media scrutiny is healthy or desirable. If this case were open to the public I believe it would just cause more drama and friction between me and Levi, which would not be in Tripp's best interests.

We fully agree with Bristol's reasoning. Accordingly, we didn't want to post on this matter at all. C4P's view in regard to Levi and his antics has always been that Tripp's well being must be foremost in our minds. However, now that Levi has fought to make the custody hearings public, and Governor Palin's political opponents are already using this to take shots at her, we felt it was necessary to correct the distortions and lies being presented.

It's clear that Levi views this custody process as an opportunity for more publicity that he hopes will further his modeling/acting/porn career. This is reflected in the argument he presented for encouraging as much public involvement as possible:

"I do not feel protected against Sarah Palin in a closed proceeding," Johnston said in an affidavit accompanying Butler's filings. "I hope that if it is open she will stay out of it. ... I think a public case might go a long way in reducing Sarah Palin's instinct to attack and allow the real parties in this litigation, Bristol and I, to work things out a lot more peacefully than we could if there is any more meddling from Sarah Palin."

It's difficult to read Levi's nonsense with a straight face. This custody process is between Levi and Bristol, but Levi knows that he will receive more attention by attacking Governor Palin. His only intention here is to create a media circus that he can capitalize on while Bristol continues to focus on her son's well being and future.

Bristol addressed this lie in her affidavit:

My mother, Sarah Palin, is not involved in this custody matter other than as a grandmother, so Levi Johnston has no need to be "protected" from her. This case is between me and Levi; my mother has nothing to do with it.

She also brought to the court's attention Levi's on-going attacks on her mother and her family:

As can be seen in Levi Johnston's Affidavit and his Opposition to the Motion to Show Cause he is still attacking my mother and accusing her of being "vindictive," of "meddling," and of intending to "run roughshod" over Levi's "very bones." None of this is true; my mother is not involved in this case. What is clear so far is that Levi has gone repeatedly to national media to spread falsehoods and malign my family - a family that has provided round-the-clock care, love, and affection for our son Tripp. Levi wants these proceedings public to continue to make a spectacle of this custody dispute for his own self-promotion.

Well said, Bristol.

We have documented Levi's numerous lies told in the pursuit of self-promotion, and I'm sure we can expect more during these proceedings. Levi's, and his attorney Rex Butler's, strategy is to make Governor Palin the issue so they can create a situation in which they can profit.

Apparently, however, Levi hasn't seen fit to pay for his son's expenses with the money he's been earning off the Palin name, as Thomas Van Flein, Bristol's attorney, noted in the petition for custody:

To date, Bristol and her family have provided nearly 100% of the child care for Tripp, and paid for almost all costs associated with Tripp's upbringing. Not until October, 8th, 2009, nearly 10 months after Tripp was born, did Levi pay his first dollar to help support his child.

With this in mind, one has to question how interested Levi is in Tripp. Although he's been invited to visit Tripp anytime, he's only done so sporadically. He seems more interested in jetting off to Los Angeles and New York to catch the next gig that presents an opportunity to attack the Palins.

Despite these concerns, Bristol still thinks that Levi should have access to Tripp, and has proposed that the court set-up a visitation schedule for him to spend time with Tripp. That is, if Levi has the time and inclination to do so.