The following Op-Ed piece by Thomas Jefferson School of Law Professor William Slomanson appeared in the March 31, 2016 edition of the San Diego Union Tribune:
Xavier Alvarez and Elven Swisher lied. At a public meeting of a California water district board, Mr. Alvarez falsely stated that he had received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mr. Swisher’s misrepresentation was wearing unearned combat medals on his former Marine uniform, including the Purple Heart. Both were convicted of violating the Stolen Valor Act (SVA). Portions of this federal statute then prohibited either lying about or wearing undeserved military honors. Alvarez was thus convicted of his words and Swisher for his conduct…
The rest of Professor William Slomanson’s Op-Ed can be found here.
