Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

State bar clears prosecutor over Kerry ad (Swift Boat Veterans' claims)
The Oregonian ^ | Thursday, March 17, 2005 | BOAZ HERZOG

Posted on 03/17/2005 12:46:58 PM PST by crazyhorse691

The Oregon State Bar has cleared Clackamas County prosecutor Alfred French of ethics violations when he lied years ago to his former boss about an interoffice affair and when he participated in a presidential campaign ad last year that said Democratic Sen. John Kerry lied about his Vietnam War record. The bar's nine-member Professional Responsibility Board on Saturday put to rest its investigation, dismissing more than 60 complaints that French's actions involved dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. The state bar is the regulating organization that licenses and disciplines attorneys in Oregon.

The ruling means that the 59-year-old father of three has emerged unscathed in two separate investigations into his conduct. Earlier this year, the secretary of state's office found that French did not violate Oregon election law by appearing in an ad by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacking Kerry.

"We're extremely pleased with the outcome," said Ralph Spooner, French's Salem attorney, who received notification about the state bar ruling Wednesday by mail. "We know they gave this matter careful and thorough attention and had input from all sides.

French did not return calls seeking comment, but Spooner said, "Mr. French is glad that the matter is now finally concluded."

A decorated Vietnam War veteran, French was suspended for two weeks by the Clackamas County district attorney's office last summer for using office equipment to print an affidavit in which he called Kerry a liar. He also had asked a legal secretary to notarize his signature on the affidavit. The suspension cost him $4,204. The district attorney's office did not discipline French for lying to his former supervisor about having an affair with an office secretary in 1991.

"We're glad the issue has been resolved," said Clackamas County Chief Deputy District Attorney Greg Horner. "We're glad that he's going to be able to continue with his responsibilities as a prosecutor."

Many of the people filing complaints with the Oregon State Bar felt that French submitted a false affidavit because he relied on the accounts of war buddies in some of his accusations that Kerry exaggerated his war record, rather than relying solely on his own personal knowledge. French has said he made it clear in the affidavit that he had not witnessed all the events he wrote about.

The Oregon State Bar found in its investigation that it was not in a position to affirm or refute the veracity of French's statements in the ad and the affidavit. The bar also said that no one, except perhaps French personally, was harmed when French lied about his affair and that it was "difficult to demonstrate how the misrepresentation might have jeopardized the public or demonstrates that French is a threat to the public."

The bar's complaint summary added that it did receive some letters supporting French and his right to free speech.

Boaz Herzog: 503-412-7072, boazherzog@news.oregonian.com


TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; ads; alfredfrench; bushhaters; democratscheat; dirtyrats; freespeech; rats; sbv; sorelosers; swiftboatveterans; swiftboatvets
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last
This man was subjected to a witch hunt orchestrated by the Democrats to punish him for appearing in a Swiftee Boat ad. And I mean orchastrated as in RICCO. The Rat party is not very nice around the Portland Metro area.
1 posted on 03/17/2005 12:46:59 PM PST by crazyhorse691
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

This is one time I would like to see someone get sued--like the idiot state of Oregon!


2 posted on 03/17/2005 12:55:03 PM PST by Txsleuth (Mark Levin for Supreme Court Chief Justice!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

Dems have *always* played hardball.

Hasn't turned out very well for them, though, has it?!

3 posted on 03/17/2005 12:55:59 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691
A decorated Vietnam War veteran, French was suspended for two weeks by the Clackamas County district attorney's office last summer for using office equipment to print an affidavit

Seems really harsh - compared to what real office abuser do (ie March Madness printouts).

This is what people mean of the democrat policy of personal destruction if you get in their way...

4 posted on 03/17/2005 12:56:23 PM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - They want to die for Islam, and we want to kill them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691
The Rat party is not very nice around the Portland Metro area.

And where are they nice?

5 posted on 03/17/2005 12:57:11 PM PST by taxesareforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691; Salvation

Bump and ping!

Very glad to see this.
Thank you for posting it.


6 posted on 03/17/2005 12:57:30 PM PST by dixiechick2000 (President Bush is a mensch in cowboy boots.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: taxesareforever

And where are they nice?



Six feet under...bottom of deep well...at the end of a short rope on a tall tree...


7 posted on 03/17/2005 12:59:17 PM PST by crazyhorse691 (We won. We don't need to be forgiving. Let the heads roll!!!!!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

Good news. He ought to sue them for any loss in income.


8 posted on 03/17/2005 1:00:00 PM PST by Soul Seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

Typical tactics of the Democrats, as they seek to piunish anyone who disagrees with them or is in there way.


9 posted on 03/17/2005 1:01:14 PM PST by Michael.SF. (Does anyone remember Billy Dale?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

This guy was the original GuckertGannon. His crime was being a conservative, so his personal life was dug up.


10 posted on 03/17/2005 1:05:10 PM PST by spycatcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691
"French was suspended for two weeks by the Clackamas County district attorney's office last summer for using office equipment to print an affidavit in which he called Kerry a liar."

Unbelievable and ... laughable. Wonder what the penalty is for unauthorized use of Paper Clips is.

11 posted on 03/17/2005 1:05:53 PM PST by drt1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Michael.SF.
"A decorated Vietnam War veteran, French was suspended for two weeks by the Clackamas County district attorney's office last summer for using office equipment to print an affidavit in which he called Kerry a liar. He also had asked a legal secretary to notarize his signature on the affidavit."

Could you imagine how many Democrat activists would be "guilty" of these same acts. No Democrat governmnet worker ever printed a page or copied a page for private purposes or political purposes without paying for the page. No Democrat has ever had a Secretary in their government office notarize a form. Heck, I'll bet that when a Democrat politicain runs for office, a publicly funded Secretary commonly notarizes the forms.

12 posted on 03/17/2005 1:08:44 PM PST by Montfort
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

It just goes to show how brave these guys really were not only in Vietnam, but here in America standing up to the totalitarian machine of the liberal democrats. God Bless them, without them I don't think GWB could have won.


13 posted on 03/17/2005 1:19:06 PM PST by wmfights
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

I wonder how many lies kerry has told in his lifetime? Oh I forgot, kerry in the infinite liar ever-ready charged with treason, cowardness and anti-americanism. I hope this man sues kerry and the DNC. NSNR


14 posted on 03/17/2005 1:20:25 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

"The Rat party is not very nice around the Portland Metro area."

You noticed that too? It's like being a goldfish in a tank full of piranhas!


15 posted on 03/17/2005 1:22:37 PM PST by derllak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691

It's nice to see "McCarthyism" fail.


16 posted on 03/17/2005 1:22:41 PM PST by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wmfights

You said it!

God Bless each and every one of the Vets!


17 posted on 03/17/2005 1:24:09 PM PST by Boardwalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691; Salvation; dixiechick2000; Archie Bunker on steroids

The facists who control Portland and many other counties in Oregon end up losing when cases like this get out of their kangaroo courts.


18 posted on 03/17/2005 1:29:00 PM PST by Grampa Dave (The MSM has been a WMD, Weapon of Mass Disinformation for the Rats for at least 4 decades.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

So, can he turn around and sue the people who sued him now? If yes, I hope he does and collects back the $4,000.

However, it would be worth $4,000 to call Kerry a liar, which he is.


19 posted on 03/17/2005 1:31:59 PM PST by BushisTheMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: crazyhorse691
But John Kerry did LIE about his military record and still has not signed his Form 180! John Kerry is lying now about his bill "for the children" cradle to grave insurance...this bill is an unconstitutional entitlement, piggy backing on other family insurance programs and will require the government to raise your taxes!. John Kerry is a puzzling politician in that he can’t seem to understand the ripple on the pond effect of his lame-brained politics-for-votes, or he just doesn’t care.
20 posted on 03/17/2005 1:33:46 PM PST by yoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson