Subpeonas Raise Stakes and Heat in Fight Over Suspended Sheriff Mirkarimi

By: Brian Shields - Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:41:57 -0800
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Lawyers for suspended San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi are sending subpoenas to current and former members of the Board of Supervisors to testify before the Ethics Commission.

Mirkarimi says Mayor Ed Lee committed perjury when he told the Commission he did not arrange for a job offer for Mirkarimi in exchange for stepping down as sheriff.

The move is prompting a strong response from the Mayor.

"Reckless and outrageous allegations of perjury have been made about my testimony before the Ethics Commission," the mayor said in a written statement.  "But my testimony before the Commission was entirely truthful and based solely on the facts. The Sheriff’s current strategy to distract, misinform and misdirect the Ethics Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the public does not change that.

Former Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin has said a close confidante of the mayor approached him to extend a job offer to Mirkarimi.

"Yes, I do believe the Mayor was not truthful in his testimony before the commission," Mirkarimi's lawyer David Waggoner says.  "Ultimately this entire case is built on the Mayor's credibility.  If it's shown there's a reasonable doubt about the Mayor's credibility, then the Ethics Commission must look into that and the public deserves to have answers."

Mirkarimi pleaded guilty to Misdemeanor False Imprisonment to avoid a trial on domestic abuse allegations involving a bruise on his wife's arm.

The Ethics Commission must still run and then the Board of Supervisors vote on whether the mayor's suspension of Mirkarimi as sheriff will hold up.

(Copyright 2012, KRON 4, All rights reserved.)
blog comments powered by Disqus