Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk explained Tuesday that she missed the last three weeks of work to deal with a bout of depression and will not return to the office for another month. She says an additional four-week absence “would be in my best interest and the best interest of the DA’s office” to “give this illness the professional attention it deserves”. Hawk’s former campaign consultant, Mari Woodlief, said Hawk “doesn’t feel the need to do an interview on this, but she will send a statement later today”.
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Hawk spent time in in rehab for prescription drugs in 2013, shortly after she announced she was running for D.A. She said she had to have back surgery, but spent a month at an Arizona facility for her use of pain medication and an Adderall like drug according to the Dallas Morning News. Please know that I’m fully committed to serving our citizens and working hard to make Dallas County a thought leader on criminal justice, and the most respect DA’s office in the nation.
Her previously unexplained absence had generated many questions about her job performance and the management of her office. “If Susan can not do her job, for herself and for her office, she should resign”.
The Dallas Morning News reported over the weekend that Hawk had been on a break from work since August . 3.
“Unquestionably, much of the havoc of the past three weeks could have been avoided with a clearer communication plan”, the paper wrote. “She just needed time off”.
Hawk, a Republican, took office in January after ousting two-term Democrat Craig Watkins in a close race.
Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk speaks at a town hall meeting in May.
Emmert accused The News of being unfair to Hawk by holding her to a different standard than Watkins. They complained that Hawk had created a toxic atmosphere of suspicion in the district attorney’s office.
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“Before she starts calling for Republican resignations, she should clean her own house first”, he said.
