District attorney's email ripping Oconee leads to meeting, apology for 'language used'

Western Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez
Western Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez
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Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez sent out a scathing email in December about the dangers she felt she faced in Oconee County, where she said she is the “most hated woman” and where “white supremacists are out to get me.”

The e-mail was widely circulated and caused enough concern among some in Oconee that County Commission Chairman John Daniell and Commissioner Chuck Horton met recently with Gonzalez in an effort “to reduce tensions.”

The Western Circuit covers Clarke and Oconee counties.

Daniell, Horton and Gonzalez issued a joint statement this week in which the first-term prosecutor apologized for the email and said she “deeply regrets the unfortunate choice of language used.”

All three agreed they “had a very frank and healthy conversation regarding both our individual concerns and our common interests.”

Oconee County Commission Chairman John Daniell
Oconee County Commission Chairman John Daniell

Among the issues discussed were some social media posts using language that Gonzalez felt was threatening toward her and an assault that occurred in December during a meeting of the Oconee County Democrats in Watkinsville.

A Clarke County man was charged with assaulting a Watkinsville man in an incident that Gonzalez, who was present at the gathering, characterized as “an act of political aggression.”

While Gonzalez said in the email she could safely walk in “the Block” on Vine Street — a place she said some consider the most dangerous area in Athens — she said “I can’t walk alone in Watkinsville, Oconee, because white supremacist are out to get me.”

According to the joint statement, Gonzalez only intended to single out the actions of a few, but “she understands why Oconee County was offended by these comments. It was not her intent to cause such offense and DA Gonzalez apologizes.”

More: Deborah Gonzalez, Western Circuit's first female district attorney, reflects on first year

The three also discussed recent efforts by some elected politicians to pull Oconee County from the Western Circuit, and they “agreed the decision to make a change in the circuit should not be based on the election of an individual district attorney.”

The three officials also agreed to have quarterly meetings to review operations and discuss any individual concerns, according to the statement.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: District Attorney Gonzalez apologizes for email criticizing Oconee