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Prosecutor suspended over Swift Boat ad
The Oregonian ^ | September 25, 2004 | Stephen Beaven

Posted on 09/25/2004 7:33:14 AM PDT by hiho hiho

A Clackamas County prosecutor has been suspended without pay for two weeks after he admitted using office equipment to print an affidavit in which he called Sen. John Kerry a liar.

But the district attorney's office said Friday that Alfred French will not be disciplined for lying about an interoffice affair to his then-boss in the 1990s.

French, who was put on leave Aug. 26 amid complaints about the commercial and his acknowledgement that he lied about the affair, will return to work Oct. 4, according to a press release from District Attorney John Foote's office. French will retain his title as senior deputy district attorney.

His suspension, which started Monday, will cost him $4,204.

During the investigation, French admitted that on July 21 he used his office computer to print a draft of the affidavit. On the same day, he asked a legal secretary to notarize his signature on the affidavit.

"French's inappropriate use of office equipment for a political document was not permitted or allowed," said the press release.

But the investigation did not find evidence of sexual harassment or other misconduct as a result of French's affair with a secretary in 1991.

French admitted last month to The Oregonian that when then District Attorney James O'Leary questioned him about the affair in the '90s, he denied it. O'Leary said he would have fired French if he'd admitted the relationship because it violated office policy.

"While this office does not in any way condone French's personal conduct, we believe it is a private matter," according to the press release.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Greg Horner said Friday that the office would have no additional comment on French's reinstatement.

French could not be reached Friday. His attorney, Ralph Spooner, said his client is "grateful to be returning to work." He also said French regretted bringing "unwelcome and unwanted attention" to the district attorney's office.

French is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who appeared in an ad by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacking Kerry's service in Vietnam. His affidavit supporting the ad accused Kerry of exaggerating his war record. French later conceded he was relying on the account 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.

French still faces investigations by the Oregon State Bar and the Elections Division of the secretary of state's office. Both have set a Sept. 30 deadline for French to respond to the allegations against him.

The Elections Division is investigating whether French did any work on the Swift Boat commercial on work time, which is prohibited under state law. The district attorney's press release did not make clear whether French used the office computer on work time or his own time.

Stephen Beaven: 503-294-7663; stevebeaven@news.oregonian.com


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: alfrench; kerry; retaliation; swiftboat

1 posted on 09/25/2004 7:33:14 AM PDT by hiho hiho
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To: hiho hiho

He used a word processor and a laser printer? Misappropriation of resources, even if he did it in his spare time?


2 posted on 09/25/2004 7:38:46 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: hiho hiho

Rats punish man for participating in election.

3 posted on 09/25/2004 7:39:17 AM PDT by gitmo (Thanks, Mel. I needed that.)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
He must be a pub....only republicans pay the price, the RATS in the other hand slither outta crimes...:(
4 posted on 09/25/2004 7:41:17 AM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: hiho hiho
Who did this guy think he was, anyway--Bill Clinton?

Obviously a political retaliation for his testament with the SBV--I hope he manages to rebuild his career, maybe with O'Neil's help?

5 posted on 09/25/2004 7:46:04 AM PDT by Mamzelle (Pajamamama)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

"He used a word processor and a laser printer? Misappropriation of resources, even if he did it in his spare time?"

Seems minor, huh? But, what happened is evidence that everyone needs to watch what they're doing. Technically, he did misappropriate resources, and now he's being punished. That could not have happened if he had done this at home, on his own time.

Use caution and follow the rules.


6 posted on 09/25/2004 7:50:51 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Mamzelle

once we vet the story ...... how can we help him......


7 posted on 09/25/2004 7:51:15 AM PDT by Gibtx (Wow)
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To: hiho hiho

Even with the heat turned up on some of them by nitwitted Dem employers, the Swifties STILL HAD TO COME FORWARD TO TELL THE TRUTH!!!


8 posted on 09/25/2004 7:55:31 AM PDT by BillyCrockett
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To: hiho hiho

I wonder if this guy's boss has ever heard of the First Amendment.


9 posted on 09/25/2004 8:00:16 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: hiho hiho

A nickel's worth of tiner and paper?

It's notable that they make a spacial effort for POLITICAL use, as opposed to personal use.


10 posted on 09/25/2004 8:03:04 AM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Your Friendly Freeper Patent Attorney)
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To: MineralMan
Yeah, Yeah. Every Republican MUST follow the rules.

John Kerry broke numerous military regulations in protesting the Viet Nam war and traveled to a foreign country to give aid and comfort to the enemy. He falsified reports of his combat action. He lied about being in Cambodia on Christmas of 1969. He should have been tried for treason and ought to still be in a federal prison for his betrayals.

There were no adverse legal consequences to Kerry for an enormous list of outrages by John Kerry in his years of deceit, anti-Americanism and outright sedition...

..but let a guy use a computer printer at work to reveal the traitor...and the left wants to hang the good guy.

This guy ought to tell the Clackamas County prosecutor to put it where the sun don't shine. Oregon is so full of these stinking leftists, it smells like an open sewer.

This is nothing but political payback in communist-held Oregon. It ain't about following regulations in the prosecutor's office.

11 posted on 09/25/2004 8:05:22 AM PDT by NoControllingLegalAuthority
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To: Pearls Before Swine
He used a word processor and a laser printer? Misappropriation of resources,
even if he did it in his spare time?


Only if he's a Christian and/or Republican/conservative.
12 posted on 09/25/2004 8:06:39 AM PDT by VOA
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To: hiho hiho
Another article from a different source:

Swift Boat Veteran Suspended

13 posted on 09/25/2004 8:07:48 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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To: Pearls Before Swine
Hey! There's no legal controlling authority!

Ok, seriously - what he did was technically wrong but c'mon let's be real, if he was a RAT he'd get a promotion (or an office party) instead of a suspension.

14 posted on 09/25/2004 8:13:44 AM PDT by Condor51 (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. -- Gen G. Patton Jr)
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To: hiho hiho

Bush oughta put Mr. French on the campaign trail as an example of how liberals persecute Vietnam vets.


15 posted on 09/25/2004 8:31:39 AM PDT by Holden Magroin
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To: hiho hiho

Here's how the game works.

The hinge point is here: 'A Clackamas County prosecutor has been suspended without pay for two weeks (and)....will return to work Oct. 4, according to a press release from District Attorney John Foote's office.'

Basically, the incident was punishable according to the discretion of the District Atty. If this were a Kerry supporter it would be excused either because the District Atty was a fellow Dem or a call would be made to blackmail them into doing so. Then, if that didn't work, the media would be contacted, and they would force the district atty to do so with their smear machine.

So you have the lone individual generally in the case of a Republican vs. a conspiracy of players in the case of the Democrat. That is why they always get away with it.


16 posted on 09/25/2004 1:04:04 PM PDT by Free Vulcan
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To: hiho hiho

how did they connect one offense to the other?


17 posted on 09/25/2004 1:16:46 PM PDT by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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