Mr. Mirkarimi and his wife, Eliana Lopez, said Thursday that they blame their travails on a neighbor who they said misrepresented herself as a lawyer, as well as a series of “media distortions.” Mr. Mirkarimi bruised Ms. Lopez’s arm during a heated New Year’s Eve argument in front of their toddler son.
In exclusive interviews with The Bay Citizen, Mr. Mirkarimi said he had been denied his constitutionally protected right to due process by being prevented from telling his side of the story, even as “a runaway train of innuendo and rumor” in the news media led to his suspension.
Ms. Lopez, speaking by telephone from Caracas, where she and her son, Theo, are visiting relatives, repeated her contention that a political conspiracy was behind the couple’s financial hardship, forced separation and public disgrace.
“They don’t want Ross to become too powerful, and they’re doing whatever they can to inflict more pain,” said Ms. Lopez, a former Venezuelan television actress. “This is completely wrong. I love Ross. And we have to keep on fighting.”
Mr. Mirkarimi is fighting his suspension without pay and possible dismissal by Mr. Lee on a charge of official misconduct.
