The firestorm around Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber is getting hotter.  Willamette Week and KINK and KXL in Portland are all reporting Kitzhaber’s staff wanted to destroy thousands of the governor’s e-mails from his personal account that had been sought by reporters under public records law…but state employees refused to carry out the request.  Destruction or concealment of public records is a criminal misdemeanor.  The Oregonian is reporting Kitzhaber has retained a Portland criminal defense attorney, Janet Hoffman.  Democratic legislative leaders told Kitzhaber this morning that he should resign.  Senate President Peter Courtney and House Majority Leader Tina Kotek delivered the message, and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler has issued a statement saying he thinks Kitzhaber should step down.  In addition, Senate Democrats held a meeting this morning, and Senator Rod Monroe is quoted by The Oregonian as saying he thought Kitzhaber would resign today.  However, at a press conference Courtney termed Kitzhaber as “defiant” during their meeting this morning.  Earlier today, Secretary Of State Kate Brown said she had a private conversation with embattled Gov. John Kitzhaber that was “strange” and contradictory.  Brown says the governor had asked her to fly back to Oregon from a conference in Washington, D.C., but when she arrived, he asked why she had returned.  Brown said she found question “strange” and it’s “clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation.”  She said Kitzhaber told her he’s not resigning, but then began a discussion about a transition.  Brown would become governor if Kitzhaber steps aside in the wake of influence-peddling allegations involving his fiancee, a green-energy consultant.