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Jun 3, 2008 7:01 pm US/Central
Gifts To Dallas Co. DA's Office Questioned
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins is facing ethical and legal questions. He acknowledges receiving thousands of dollars worth of tickets for airlines and sporting events which he says went to his staff.
The problem is with several letters that were sent to corporations, from the district attorney's office, asking for gift donations in exchange for 'face time' with Watkins.
While Watkins says the letters may have been inappropriate, he says they were not a violation of law.
Watkins spent $4,500 of his own money last December to purchase gift cards and coupons from popular retailers. The purchases, which were completely legal, were to be part of a staff holiday awards program.
What Watkins didn't know, according to staffers, was that appeals were being made in the form of letters written to American Airlines, the operators of the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, and other businesses asking them to provide tickets for giveaways to recognized employees.
According to law, the written appeal for gifts is a violation of state statute. "In your official capacity are you receiving gifts because of your job description?" asked Matt Yarbrough, a former federal prosecutor.
According to Yarbrough bribery statutes prohibit any solicitation of services or goods from anyone subject to prosecution. "Should you give four Mavericks tickets to us we will give you personal 'face time' with the district attorney or allow you to get some sort of recognition at a public event for fundraising. I don't think that passes the 'smell test'," Yarbrough said.
In a statement from DA Watkins office, he acknowledges a violation of 'internal policy'. He says the letters were written by staff members without his approval. But Watkins also claims no laws were broken, because the tickets were acquired through employee relationships built outside the DA's office.
The problem with his claim is that the letters were on official Dallas County District Attorney letterhead and signed by a top staffer.
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