City Attorney Seeks To Remove Ed Jew From Office

Jun. 18 (KGO) -- Embattled San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew is now fighting a move by the city attorney to remove him from office. Jew's attorney calls it politically motivated and unfair, but the city attorney says he has no choice.

Dennis Herrera, San Francisco city attorney: "Right now what we've reached is a crisis in the legitimacy of San Francisco government that we have not seen in modern times."

With that said, city attorney Dennis Herrera started the legal process to remove Supervisor Ed Jew from office. Herrera will ask permission from state Attorney General Jerry Brown to argue the case in superior court.

Jew maintains he has lived in this home on 28th Avenue which is in his supervisory district.

The supervisor declined to talk about his legal troubles, but he did tell ABC7 he spent most of the day on jury duty and he says here's a bit of evidence that he lives in his district -- his jury summons.

Ed Jew, San Francisco supervisor: "Well basically the summons was sent to my home on 2450 28th Avenue."

But Herrera says his four-week investigation found overwhelming evidence that when Jew declared his candidacy, he did not live here.

Dennis Herrera, San Francisco city attorney: "Records and declarations from the case document either complete absence or scant degree of water, telephone, garbage, postal or gas or electric usage at the address."

The city investigation also quotes 32 neighbors who say they never saw Jew or his family at the house.

The city attorney's decision comes a week after district attorney Kamala Harris filed criminal charges against Jew, also accusing him of lying about where he lives.

Jew surrendered and was released after making bail. His attorneys say this criminal prosecution takes precedent over the city attorney's civil case.

Bill Fazio, Supervisor Jew's lawyer: "We would have to seek permission from the court to ask the city attorney to tell the city attorney to stop and desist and wait until the criminal matter is over."

Supervisor President Aaron Peskin says Mayor Gavin Newsom also has the power to suspend Jew for professional misconduct.

Aaron Peskin, S.F. supervisor president: "I think for the smooth functioning of the government, it should be given serious consideration."

As for Jew's day in court, the judge excused him from jury duty.

Ed Jew, San Francisco supervisor: "They basically said that I was excused due to the fact that I was a public official and probably had a lot of things to do."

The city attorney will file his request with state Attorney General Brown to go to Superior Court to remove Ed Jew from office. Once he does that, Jew has 15 days to respond.

The FBI is also investigating Jew on possible bribery charges for accepting $40,000 dollars in cash from businessmen who had permit problems.

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