Posted on 09/24/2004 7:08:11 PM PDT by kristinn
Swift boat veteran suspended 9/24/2004, 5:23 p.m. PT The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Clackamas County prosecutor has been suspended for two weeks without pay because he used office equipment to prepare his affidavit as one of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, District Attorney John Foote said Friday.
Alfred French, a senior deputy district attorney, used the computer in his office to receive and print a draft of the affidavit on July 21. On the same day, he asked a legal secretary in the office to notarize the document, Foote said in a statement.
The Swift Boat veterans accused Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry of exaggerating his Vietnam war record to win medals. The charges have not been substantiated.
In a Swift Boat ad, French said "I served with John Kerry. ... He is lying about his record." In the sworn affidavit, he said Kerry "wildly exaggerated and lied about his record in Vietnam."
French subsequently acknowledged he relied on the accounts of his friends and did not witness Kerry in combat. That admission led to pickets outside his office and complaints of unethical conduct to the state bar.
"We recognize that the discipline is particularly strong in light of a single incident of misconduct," Foote said. "However, in light of the impact it has had on the daily operations of this office, the discipline is appropriate and warranted."
Calls to French's home late Friday were met with busy signals.
The suspension started on Monday and will last until Oct. 4. French will lose more than $4,200, Foote said.
Foote said the legal secretary who notarized the affidavit will not be punished because she was not aware of its political purpose.
French had been on paid leave, using vacation time, since last month, when he acknowledged an extramarital affair with a secretary more than a decade ago, and lying about it to a former supervisor.
The woman in question still works at the district attorney's office but does not report to French. Foote said he considers that matter closed.
"While we do not condone French's personal conduct, we believe it is a private matter."
Man they are out for Al.
I hope he isnt fighting alone up there
In a related story: Freepers post from work!
This is more punishment than Bill Clinton ever got for his perjury and obstruction of justice....
That was dumb. He could have gotten it notarized at Kinkos.
I dont, precisely because of this
They drug up that affair on poor Al as well.
Clamath Co is out for his blood just because of who he is and what he believes
Well, he's a stand-up guy who has had to take worse in his admirable lifetime.
I don't know the particulars of their office rules, but I would be willing to be others in the office use their equipment for personal (even political) stuff.
Seems a bit petty
Kinkos, more than just a place to fax forged documents.
Bet his boss is a Dim.
Well I do. And I suspect that the majority of folks in this man's office use their computers for some type of personal use as well. It's almost impossible to avoid if you check email at work. This is petty, partisian politics.
Ba Dum Dum.
one of our freepers is a personal friend of Al. I dont recall the SN and havent seen them in months
That was only sex.
Well I dont use the co puter for political agendas
I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if Mr. French's employers are not cracking down equally hard on other employees of other political persuasions who engage in activities such as posting to DU from work, etc., he may have grounds to file a complaint that he is being singled out because of his political beliefs.
Way to do the DemocRATS bidding you stinking sacks of Clinton.
Sincerely,
TE
How many others in the office use postage, office supplies, etc???
This sounds like he has a RAT boss who is out for blood.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.