Boat Debacle Swiftly Deepens

Alfred French, a deputy district attorney from Clackamas County, Oregon, has apparently discovered the perils of being both a lawyer and a public figure. Mr. French, a decorated Vietnam veteran appeared in one of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads, and also swore out an affidavit claiming that John Kerry lied or at least exaggerated his military service.
He later made public statements that he was relying on the word of his former fellow soldiers. Unfortunately for Mr. French, the affidavit he swore out included the necessary statement that the facts therein were personally known to the affiant. In response the Oregon State Bar has received several complaints, and is investigating the matter.

Assuming the complaints are true, Mr. French stands to lose much more than face. Rather minor mistruths (or perjuries) are quite often overlook for the non-lawyer, particularly in political discourse. Attorney's, however, have a higher obligation which extends beyond their professional activities. In my opinion, that is the whole reason Law is a licensed profession.

If Mr. French simply overlooked the language of the affidavit, I think he should be sternly reminded of this fact with a public reprimand. If he intentionally mislead the public, I think the Oregon Bar should take more drastic action. At the very least, I think the Clackamas County District Attorney needs to review Mr. French's caseload and assure that these sort of exaggerations/mistruths are not jeopardizing defendants. On the other hand, if these allegations turn out to be false, I hope the Oregon Bar will make a public statement to that effect. People can be wrongly accused, particularly in a bitter debate such as this.
In any case, I hope other attorneys involved in contentious political issues (including John Kerry himself) will be very careful to maintain the credibility of the profession.

Critics of prosecutor in ad go to state bar; Discovered in How Appealing

Also Props to Seth (also here) and Atrios for scooping me on this. I have been busy with the Bible...