When I first read Mike Smith’s letter (Free Lance July, 9) I
thought to myself,
”
finally somebody speaks up on behalf of John Sarsfield and his
alleged mistress who actually doesn’t have an ax to grind or any
hidden agendas.
”
Dear Editor:
When I first read Mike Smith’s letter (Free Lance July, 9) I thought to myself, “finally somebody speaks up on behalf of John Sarsfield and his alleged mistress who actually doesn’t have an ax to grind or any hidden agendas.” The common man with a sincere heartfelt plea that we allow due process to take its course. Asking that we let the county complete it’s investigation into the allegations of the alleged illicit affair and its affects on the DA employees and the potential lawsuit.
Mike, like any other American, is entitled to his opinion. But, allowing the county to complete its investigation when it’s only being done to protect the county is like letting the fox guard the hen house.
The county is not interested in the women who filed the complaint; it’s only interest is in protecting the county. That means the investigation has to be inconclusive or on Sarsfield’s side. Odds are we will never get to see the actual report – only a watered down version of the inconclusive findings that will ultimately be spoon-fed to the media. Hopefully, as in the past, your reporter Kollin Kosmicki will turn into a rat terrier and ferret out the truth.
As for due process and how it pertains to our right to know, I have a suggestion. In the past I have referred to the San Benito County Grand Jury as the less-than-grand-jury and even called for them to be disbanded. I feel like a hypocrite for saying this but the regular grand jury, not the criminal grand jury, has the authority and obligation to look into this matter. They have subpoena power, which means they can legally obtain the county’s final investigative report and do their own investigation based on what they find in that report.
It is my understanding that if the allegations are true, the grand jury can remove him for malfeasance in office. They can also recommend the alleged mistress be terminated.
If this is correct, then there are three ways that Mr. Sarsfield can get an early out: he can be recalled, he can be removed by the grand jury or he can do the right thing and step down and take his alleged mistress with him.
Obviously the least expensive way is that he steps down. But we all know that’s not going to happen. That would take too much courage .
Recall John Sarsfield.
Bruce Kiefert,
Hollister
