AUSA Should Be Suspended For Conflict Of Interest
An “intimate, romantic” relationship between an Assistant United States Attorney and her lead FBI agent in two cases has led to a proposed six-month suspension and probation by a Louisiana Hearing Committee.
The hearing committee found that the AUSA had failed to disclose the conflict in the investigations and prosecutions of Monroe Councilmen “Red” Stevens and Arthur Gilmore and a separate prosecution of Ouachita Parish Sheriff Royce Toney.
In the Toney case, the AUSA responded to the defendant’s supposed “spreading rumors” about the affair (true rumors, it turns out) by making the defendant submit to a “perp walk.”
The hearing committee also found that she lied to the United States Attorney when confronted.
The relationship was found to create a Rule 1.7 conflict of interest.
According to the hearing committee, she was suspended without pay for 19 days after an internal Department of Justice investigation and remains employed as an appellate attorney.
The Ouachita Citizen reported on the charges and disciplinary hearing in detail
Whether Griffing was truthful with her employer, specifically both [First Assistant AUSA Alexander] Van Hook and [United States Attorney Stephanie] Finley, formed another major focus of the hearings.
Van Hook said he asked Griffing specifically whether she was engaged in an intimate relationship with Chesser between 2007 and 2009.
“She said, ‘No,’ that they were just friends, that she was his office wife,” said Van Hook, who explained the phrase “office wife” was so strange to him that he went to his computer and Googled the phrase’s meaning.
“I just think it would raise an appearance of impropriety,” said Van Hook, who expressed extreme disappointment in how Griffing’s conduct at that time reflected on the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Later, Finley called Griffing to her office in the presence of Van Hook when Griffing again was queried about the nature of her relationship with Chesser. Finley questioned Griffing in light of a letter from Toney’s attorney, Davis, alleging the affair.
“She said he was her best friend but she didn’t go any further than that,” Van Hook said. “We were left with the distinct impression it was not (intimate).”
Griffing acknowledged she was not fully forthcoming with Van Hook and Finley.
Later, Griffing said, “It was never consummated, so in my mind it wasn’t wrong. I mean it was wrong, but it wasn’t.”
“I’ve never had sexual intercourse with Bill Chesser,” she added when asked to clarify.
The conduct took place in the Western District of Louisiana. (Mike Frisch)