Dallas DA Speaks At SMU, Briefly Addresses Difficult Week
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DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk did not directly address lingering controversy over her stay in drug rehab and recent office shake up during a public appearance.
Susan Hawk spoke for about an hour during a public forum with SMU's Law School Dean.
She was asked, "Is there anything you would like to tell the folks in the audience about the past week?" asked the moderator. "I think the one important lesson I learned is when you stand on the truth you never fall down," Hawk replied.
Hawk did not elaborate or explain her recent disclosure that she spent time in drug rehab during her campaign.
She went on to discuss her career as an attorney and judge.
But some in the audience like Charles Geilich wanted more on the controversy.
"Yeah, I probably would've liked to of heard her address a little bit more would you like but I understand her not doing it," says Geilich.
Hawk fired her first assistant and another top prosecutor after less than three months on the job.
They questioned her competence and stability which led to Hawk's admission of drug treatment.
Some in the audience thought she made references to those issues without directly addressing them.
"I think she sort of came around to it at the end I feel like a couple of times she was saying I'm pushing for things to be different and maybe that's where some of the friction that we're hearing some of these rumors about maybe that's what she's trying to say," says Ona Foster, Dallas resident.
After the appearance, Hawk made a dash for the door before reporters could ask questions and SMU staff prevented our camera from following her.
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