| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 22, 2022
|
|
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement about his friendship with Paul Wilson, whose wife Christy was killed in the Seal Beach salon massacre
“On August 12, 2020, you held a protest outside my office in response to comments I made at a retirement party for two former prosecutors in December 2019. In response to the protest, I issued a press release that same day. In February 2021, you filed a county claim against me alleging defamation as a result of statements contained in that press release. The county claim was denied.
In March 2022, you demanded that I issue a public retraction regarding the August 12, 2020 press release.
The last several years have been very painful for me as I watched my relationship with you deteriorate even though I can understand your frustration with what I said at that retirement party.
I have spent the last three years as the elected District Attorney of Orange County doing exactly what I promised I would do – clean up the corruption of the prior administration. It has not always been a process that has met with your satisfaction, but it has been a steady one and it is one that I remain steadfastly committed to completing.
At the time we issued the August 12, 2020 statement, I truly believed that your position was to support individuals who want to join the growing number of public defenders, supported by George Soros, attempting to take over district attorney offices in an effort to stop prosecuting criminals.
At our recent meeting you conveyed to me that is not your position and that you want criminals to continue to be held accountable. On that we agree and I am grateful for the clarification.
I am committed to keeping Orange County safe by holding violent criminals accountable and restoring the integrity of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
I regret that our friendship has been jeopardized by these recent interactions and I’m glad that we have been able to sit down on several occasions to discuss how to repair it.
I remain forever hopeful that we can continue to meet to discuss victims’ issues going forward in a show of good faith of our mutual commitment to public safety, integrity in the criminal justice system and protecting the residents of Orange County.
Respectfully,
Todd”
###