Alfred French regrets the attention but denies wrongdoing

Prosecutor faces own kind of trial .
Alfred French's attack on John Kerry, as well as his own actions, casts an unfamiliar glare on his life and job

But after he claimed in a commercial that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is lying about his war record, French found himself in the midst of a national political controversy. A career prosecutor who had always avoided media attention, he had become the focus of political protests, professional complaints and personal scrutiny.

On Thursday, after admitting to The Oregonian that he lied to his then-boss about a long-ago extramarital affair with a colleague, Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote placed French on paid leave while the office conducts an investigation into his actions. The office had a policy against such relationships.

Greg Horner, Foote's chief deputy, declined to comment on the investigation Friday. He will take French's place as prosecutor on the Ward Weaver double murder case.

French, a 58-year-old married father of three who served with Kerry in Vietnam, declined to answer questions about the suspension and investigation Thursday night. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

In an interview after work Wednesday evening in Oregon City, French said he'd never forgotten Kerry's "very hurtful" testimony to the Senate about alleged atrocities committed by U.S. troops during the war.

But even after French flew to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to make the commercial for the group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, he never anticipated the public outcry that has followed him.

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Now, in addition to the investigation into French's conduct at the district attorney's office, the Oregon State Bar has launched a preliminary investigation into whether he violated legal ethics with his Kerry affidavit. French has denied any wrongdoing.

The state Elections Division also is investigating a complaint asking if he has participated in any political activities on work time.

Earlier this week, French said he regretted the disruptions the political ad caused for his colleagues. Still, he believes his allegations against Kerry are true, and he quietly but forcefully disagrees with those who've attacked him.

"I regret the publicity," he said. "But I made the decision and I'm going to have to live with it."

Alfred French was a victim in the late 60's and early 70's of the evil and bad policy of his government. He is the victim now of misplaced anger and resentment that resulted in his being used by political hacks. Kerry was right about Vietnam and many feel the war was lost in 1969. French and the others anger should be focused on Johnson, MacNamara and Nixon not someone who saw the evil first hand and and tried to stop it when they returned.
I do believe that Alfred French is a decent man who is in denial about his Vietnam experience. The sad thing here is that the Americans who served in Vietnam are still being vitimized 30+ years latter.

All of the Alfred French posts can be found over in the right column under Alfred French Posts