Ross Mirkarimi Case: SF City Hall's Latest Witch Trial

Townhall.com ^ | July 1, 2012 | Debra J. Saunders

[Kaslin]

Let's start with all the things San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi did wrong:

1) Mirkarimi bullied his wife, Eliana Lopez, when he grabbed her right arm and bruised it Dec. 31.

2) When police first contacted Mirkarimi about the episode, the sheriff did not cooperate with the investigation. Instead, he circled the wagons.

3) He hired a small army of attorneys for himself and his wife, which slowed the legal process. He's the elected sheriff of San Francisco, and he tried to move his trial outside the city.

4) When Mirkarimi pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false imprisonment, he thought he could keep his job. Mayor Ed Lee swiftly put an end to that reverie when he asked the sheriff to quit. Mirkarimi refused. So began an Ethics Commission review that led to reams of documentation and Thursday's and Friday's hearings on Lee's bid to prompt supervisors to fire Mirkarimi for "official misconduct."

In City Hall, there should be a plaque that reads, "The more inconsequential the matter the more time, energy and money City Hall will spend on it."

This isn't San Francisco's first witch hunt. In 2006, Pete Wilson, the late KGO anchorman and talk show host, made the mistake of voicing his discomfort about a baby born to a gay supervisor and a lesbian friend. A baby, Wilson said, should not be "an experiment." Mirkarimi and three other supervisors demanded that Wilson resign his job.

Now Mirkarimi is on the receiving end. As the New Year's Eve story bubbled, Mirkarimi texted his campaign manager: "Unbelievable. (Domestic violence activist Beverly Upton) knows that I've always been a fervent supporter of the (domestic violence) community. Am I really guilty until proven innocent?" His inner circle was convinced that rival Democrats were plotting against him. They didn't see that the real enemy is political correctness. When you feed that beast, it can turn on anyone.

Why support him? One, a bruised arm does not rate a domestic violence prosecution. Two, Lopez says: "Ross never hit me, punched me, battered me or beat me." Three, I don't believe every bit of hearsay hurled at Mirkarimi. The burden of proof is on the accuser, not the accused.

It's respectable to argue that Mirkarimi's guilty plea makes him unsuitable to be sheriff. But the mayor had to throw in a declaration from a spurned one-time girlfriend and add a flimsy charge that Mirkarimi tried to intimidate witnesses. It's asymmetrical warfare.

Recently, Lee charged that Mirkarimi was guilty of "beating" Lopez. When politicians have to make up charges, watch out.

While I can enumerate Mirkarimi's mistakes, City Hall has made only one mistake in this matter -- piling on. Problem is, city solons keep making that same mistake over and over again, and they never have to admit they were wrong. They just pile on more accusations, declarations and abuse.

A reasonable man would give in, let City Hall win and move on with his life. That's why San Francisco needs a few unreasonable men. If no one stands up to City Hall's overkill, no San Franciscan is safe.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Kaslin.

His inner circle was convinced that rival Democrats were plotting against him. They didn't see that the real enemy is political correctness. When you feed that beast, it can turn on anyone... the mayor had to throw in a declaration from a spurned one-time girlfriend and add a flimsy charge that Mirkarimi tried to intimidate witnesses. It's asymmetrical warfare. Recently, Lee charged that Mirkarimi was guilty of "beating" Lopez. When politicians have to make up charges, watch out.

Demwit-vs-Demwit, so, good riddance.

[vette6387]

This is wonderful! Any time that steaming pile of excrement that calls itself the San Francisco Board of Supervisors eats of of “its own,” it’s a good day! I am ashamed to admit to having been born in San Francisco.

[fella]

“Am I really guilty until proven innocent?”

With the new power given to ‘Trial By Media’ (TBM) such as the Tra-Von case and many more like, that is the new reality.

[RedMonqey]

The PC beast has turned and bit it's (Current) Master's hand.

Popcorn anyone

[paul51]

Why support him? One, a bruised arm does not rate a domestic violence prosecution.

It does if you are a civilian

[SunkenCiv]

The resemblance to Stalin’s purges and show trials after he rid himself of Lenin are the direct consequence of living under what is, in effect, a single party state.

[Liz]

Mugshot

In 2008

WIKI From 2005-12, he served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, representing District 5. Mirkarimi is a marijuana legalization advocate, and co-founder of the Green Party of California. He left the Green Party in March 2010 to become a Democrat. Mirkarimi garnered national attention when he introduced the first legislation prohibiting the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags by large supermarkets and drugstores in 2007, making San Francisco the first city to do so. Later, other cities around the US and the world took up similar bans.

Mirkarimi, of Iranian (father) Russian Jewish (mother) descent, served on the California Coastal Commission from 2009 to 2011. On April 20, 2006, he was awarded NORML'sRufus King award, given annually for leadership in the reform of marijuana laws.

On January 13, 2012, Mirkarimi was charged with domestic violence battery, child endangerment, and dissuading a witness in connection with a New Year's Eve altercation with his wife, a Venezuelan immigrant. While jury selection was underway, Mirkarimi entered into a plea agreement with the DA, pleading guilty to one count of misdemeanor false imprisonment. On March 20, 2012, Mayor Ed Lee suspended Mirkarimi pending an ethics investigation.

[NormsRevenge]

Sam Fransicko .. The cesspool by the sea.