Claim of Van de Kamp Partisan Prosecuting Dismissed by Judge
A Superior Court judge dismissed arguments Friday that Democratic Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp is only prosecuting Assemblyman John Lewis of Orange because he is a Republican.
Lewis was indicted last year on a charge that he forged President Ronald Reagan’s signature to phony endorsement letters mailed to voters in 1986 legislative elections. Lewis’ attorneys were seeking a dismissal on the grounds of discriminatory enforcement.
They said Van de Kamp and Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner had refused to prosecute fellow Democrats in similar circumstances.
However, Judge James Morris of Sacramento ruled that “the attorney general has not sought an indictment on political grounds.”
But he added, “the attorney general could not have helped but be aware of the political ramifications” of the case.
Afterward, Dale Drozd, one of Lewis’ attorneys, said he will decide later on appeal of the ruling.
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