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kate
Admin
Joined: 14 May 2004
Posts: 1891
Location: Upstate, New York
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 Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:05 pm Post subject: Prosecutor exonerated for role in anti-Kerry ad (Al French) |
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The Oregonian
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/110518926584020.xml?oregonian?lcps
| Quote: | Prosecutor exonerated for role in anti-Kerry ad
A Clackamas County prosecutor didn't violate state election law by appearing in a Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad
Saturday, January 08, 2005
BOAZ HERZOG
Clackamas County prosecutor Alfred French did not violate state election law by appearing in a presidential campaign ad last year that said Democratic candidate Sen.John Kerry lied about his Vietnam War experience.
In a letter to French dated Thursday, the secretary of state's office determined that French participated on his own time and that using a staff notary for his affidavit supporting the ad didn't compromise the office. However, the state compliance officer suggested French more clearly separate his private political actions from his role as a prosecutor.
The secretary of state's ruling takes some pressure off French, who last year found himself thrust in the middle of a national political controversy. A 59-year-old married father of three, French was suspended for two weeks last summer for using office equipment July 21 to print an affidavit in which he called Kerry a liar. On the same day, he asked a legal secretary to notarize his signature on the affidavit. The suspension cost him $4,204.
French remains under investigation by the Oregon State Bar. He declined to comment Friday, referring inquiries to his Salem lawyer, Ralph Spooner.
"We appreciate the careful consideration that the elections division gave to this matter," Spooner said. "Mr. French is obviously pleased with their conclusion and will give careful considerations to the recommendations in the opinion."
The state compliance officer recommended that French use an outside notary "to avoid even a perception of possible election law violation." The officer also strongly urged French to consider keeping a written record of political activities he participates in on his own time.
Clackamas County Chief Deputy District Attorney Greg Horner said he was "pleased that the issue has been resolved," and declined to speculate on how the secretary of state's ruling could affect the state bar investigation. Horner said the secretary of state's recommendations on keeping logs and using notaries are "legitimate for any public employee" and already are part of the district attorney office's policy.
Carole Johnson of Albany, who filed the complaint against French with the secretary of state, said he was not disappointed in the determination despite a hunch that the investigation could have been more thorough.
"Do I think there's more? Yes," said Johnson, who owns a small nursery in Albany. "But it's not my bailiwick to judge or figure that out. Do I still feel OK about speaking up about it? Yes."
French is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who appeared in an ad by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacking Kerry's service in Vietnam. French said that he used a vacation day July 9 to prepare for filming the ad in Washington, D.C., and that he paid for the airline ticket to get there with his own money.
French also said he used his break time to review his affidavit supporting the ad, which accused Kerry of exaggerating his war record. French later conceded he was relying on the accounts of war buddies on some of his accusations. But French said he made it clear in the affidavit that he had not witnessed all the events he wrote about. He has said he committed no ethical violations. |
good news!
lets hope the State Bar issues goes well for him too!
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Navy wife
Research Director
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Location: Arlington, VA & Ft. Worth, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| This is wonderful news, for Al French did not deserve the treatment he received. |
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coldwarvet
Admiral
Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 1125
Location: Minnetonka, MN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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The next time we receive a political email with an .edu or .gov address lets be sure to apply these strict standards that have been created.
I got into a lengthy email battle with one of them this last election. I am sure we wouldn't have to dig very far or long to find all kind of emails that where created on the tax payers dime.
CWV
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Defender of the honor of those in harms way keeping us out of harms way.
"Peace is our Profession"
Strategic Air Command - Motto
USAF 75-79 Security Police |
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Stevie
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: Queen Creek, Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:12 am Post subject: |
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coldwarvet -
yes, and you can request copies of emails by government employees.
At least here in AZ you can - the public info act - I'm sure it's that way everywhere in the US. I don't know how you'd prove they've NOT given them all to you tho....
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Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged. |
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LewWaters
Admin
Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 4042
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | The state compliance officer recommended that French use an outside notary "to avoid even a perception of possible election law violation." |
Maybe they could pass this advice northward, to Washington's King County Elections Officers. To me, counting ballots of deceased persons, felon's who haven't had their voting rights restored, having 3500 more ballots than voters and somehow forgetting to timely mail out ballots to our military overseas, thereby ensuring their votes are not returned in time, leaves me with a "perception" of violations of election laws as well.
Good news for Al French, though. Let's hope the Oregon Bar sees it this way also.
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rhv5862
PO2
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 379
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:26 am Post subject: Prosecutor Exonerated |
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That is good news for Al French.
RHV |
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