May 1 on The Story: In 2021, the Oregon Legislature took a rare step. It passed a bill marking an official apology, specifically for a man named Robert Parker. In May 1987, Parker was an administrator for an Oregon Senate committee when allegations surfaced that he'd used his position for financial gain. The allegations led to multiple investigations and Parker's resignation. Although Parker was never convicted or even charged with anything, the furor ruined his reputation and his career, effectively barring him from practicing law in Oregon. Parker has maintained that the allegations were circulated by fossil fuel companies unhappy with a bill he'd worked on, and he spent years fighting to win his reputation back. Despite the legislature's apology, his lawsuits against the state languish to this day. Watch more The Story videos: http://bit.ly/watchTheStory Follow The Story on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStoryKGW Follow The Story on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestorykgw