Texas DA to Testify About Deleted E-Mail
A Texas district attorney goes to court today to answer questions about the deletion of more than 2,500 subpoenaed e-mails in a civil rights suit.
Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal could be fined or jailed if he is held in contempt of court for destroying the documents, the Associated Press reports. Publicity over e-mails already released has forced Rosenthal to abandon his re-election bid.
The documents contained off-color jokes, racial slurs and amorous notes to a former secretary. Other messages about campaign activities have prompted an investigation by the Texas attorney general, the Houston Chronicle reports. Texas law bars public servants from using government property for personal gain.
The e-mails were requested as part of a civil rights suit against the Harris County Sheriff’s Department in which two brothers—later cleared of wrongdoing—say they were wrongly arrested. The brothers’ attorney sought e-mails from Rosenthal, a witness in the case, to determine whether the deputies who arrested them were properly investigated.
Several civil rights organizations are planning a protest in front of the courthouse during the hearing.
Updated 12:31 p.m. CT to add details about the underlying case.
