Harris files criminal charges
against Jew, warrant issued

Complaint alleges felony perjury and elections violations

Embattled Supervisor Ed Jew at today's Board of Supervisors meeting.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

From the Office of District Attorney Kamala Harris

June 12, 2007, 5:02 p.m.

The San Francisco’s District Attorney’s Office today filed criminal charges against Supervisor Ed Jew.

According to court documents, Mr. Jew allegedly lied under oath and falsified documents regarding his residency in order to obtain a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It is alleged that he committed perjury, filed false documents and that he did not live in District 4 when he ran and won a seat to represent District 4.

The DA’s Office has charged Mr. Jew with four felony counts of perjury, a violation of Penal Code Section 118; one count of filing a false document, a violation of Penal Code Section 115; one count of violating Elections Code Section 18201; two counts of violating Elections Code Section 18203; and one count of violating Elections Code Section 18560, all felonies.

Immediately after the FBI executed search warrants on May 18th, the District Attorney’s Office began an investigation of potential violations of state law relating to Mr. Jew’s claims of residency at 2450 28th Avenue. Based on the District Attorney’s investigation, the charges allege that when Mr. Jew filed the papers necessary to run for Supervisor he did not reside at 2450 28th Avenue or any other residence in District 4. The San Francisco City Charter requires that each member of the Board of Supervisors must reside in the District that he or she seeks to represent.

A District Attorney’s arrest warrant has been issued for Mr. Jew. The attorney for Mr. Jew has been contacted and he has been given the opportunity to self-surrender. Bail is set at $135,000. Mr. Jew will be arraigned at the Hall of Justice in the coming days.

The District Attorney’s Office filed charges relating to the various documents that Mr. Jew allegedly filed and signed with the City and County in connection with his candidacy for the office of Supervisor in 2006, including:

· Declaration of Intent to Solicit Campaign Contributions on February 28, 2006
· Nomination Paper filed on August 11, 2006
· Declaration of Candidacy filed on August 11, 2006

Also, he has been charged with perjury in connection with using the 2450 28th Avenue address to register to vote in March 2003 and in connection with a DMV application in February 2006.

In addition, the District Attorney’s office has charged Mr. Jew with voter fraud, as he allegedly voted in the November 2006 election using the same false address at 2450 28th Avenue.

“This case goes to the heart of the integrity of the electoral process in our city,” said District Attorney Kamala D. Harris. “When San Franciscans go to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice, they should not have to question the eligibility of their candidate to hold office.”

The case will be prosecuted from the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit. DA Harris launched the Public Integrity Unit in 2004 to prosecute those who abuse a position of public trust or influence. The Unit has prosecuted cases involving campaign fundraising violations, bribery and misappropriation of public funds.

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