Mirkarimi’s Tearful Apology Empty of New Year’s Eve Facts
San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi emerged from Department 23 at the Hall of Justice this morning following his formal sentencing for his admission of guilt to one count of false imprisonment stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident involving his wife, Eliana Lopez, on New Year's Eve. Following the hearing, Mirkarimi provided a tearful mea culpa in a statement he read to a scrum of reporters. Photo by Luke Thomas.
By Kat Anderson
March 19, 2012
Following acceptance of a plea agreement that convicts him of false imprisonment, San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi tearfully apologized today for the pain he has caused his wife, son, colleagues at the Sheriff’s Department, and the people of San Francisco.
Missing from his prepared statement, which followed his formal sentencing this morning at the Hall of Justice, was a recount of the events that occurred on December 31 that led him to this point. When pressed, he stated, “As I understand, some of this continues and that’s why I’m being told to be a bit guarded.” He also did not respond to a question of whether he had the moral authority to continue running the Sheriff’s Department.
Instead, Mirkarimi took full responsibility for the events that occurred on December 31, forcefully stating that he had “no excuses.” With the aid of recent counseling, he realized he was not the person that he thought he was. “I am addressing my arrogance and my anger issues,” he said.
Mirkarimi repeated his desire to be reunited with his family and said he will seek couples’ counseling when the “stay away” order is lifted. The order has prevented him from being with his wife, Eliana Lopez, since early January.
“I so badly want to reunite with my family, my wife…I love and miss her. I miss our intimacy and laughter,” Mirkarimi said through tears.
Mirkarimi praised the staff of the Sheriff’s Department for successfully running things while he has undergone “this nightmare which began before I was Sheriff.”
“The Department is running right and well,” he said.
As for himself, he described this experience as giving him a deeper understanding of what it takes to be Sheriff “and a better person.”
He sought to correct what he called a misstatement about domestic violence being a private, family matter. “I do not believe that domestic violence is a private family matter,” he declared. Rather, he was advised days before he was charged to respond to inquiries about his personal life that it was “private.”
“For the seven years that I was on the Board of Supervisors, I was a steadfast and avid advocate for the (anti) domestic violence community.” He promised to work hard to regain the confidence of the community.
“I am ashamed of myself…I will devote myself to being a better public servant…someone who should not hide from my mistakes,” Mirkarimi concluded.
Ms. Lopez is expected to provide a full public statement tomorrow, Mirkarimi’s defense attorney, Lidia Stiglich, said.
More coverage to follow.
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