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Prosecutor suspended over Swift Boat ad
The Clackamas County district attorney suspends Alfred French for using an office computer to print criticism of Sen. John Kerry
Saturday, September 25, 2004
STEPHEN BEAVEN
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.
Prosecutor suspended over Swift Boat ad
The Clackamas County district attorney suspends Alfred French for using an office computer to print criticism of Sen. John Kerry
Saturday, September 25, 2004
STEPHEN BEAVEN
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.
