I believe that man in the picture next to Truong Diep is Dave Everett, Van Tran’s District Director. Actually I believe he is the acting Chief of Staff while Paul Hegyi runs for State Assembly up north.

Assemblyman Tran’s numerous efforts to free pro-democracy political dissidents inside Vietnam and from the United States are shining examples of his passion for fighting socialism. In addition he has lobbied top White House and State Department officials to push more human rights and democracy in Vietnam, led the protest of communist officials who were allowed on the floor of the California legislature and wrote several editorials against President Triet’s 2007 stop in Orange County.

Assemblyman Tran was also the leading Vietnamese-American elected official fighting for the state of California and Governor Schwarzenegger to recognize the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag in California and pushed members of Congress to support human rights and democracy for Vietnam during President Triet’s visit to Dana Point last year – the same event that Janet Nguyen supporter Eric Le organized and sat with the highest ranking communist officials. Eric Le is the President of the Vietnamese Business Alliance which is a well known conduit for senior officials of communist Vietnam who visit California.

Janet’s desperate attempt at the 23rd hour, to misdirect her long and well established relationship with Eric Le and the ease at which she smears someone who has done so much to fight communism shows the immaturity of her campaign. Eric Le is a political supporter of Janet’s who sits at her side during her victory party for supporters and who has given her the maximum amount of money allowed by law according to FPPC documents. According to recent photos, she even celebrated the 2008 Vietnamese New Year holiday party with Eric Le.

It is ridiculous to compare this close, well documented relationship to the thousand of chance encounters and polite photos all of Orange County’s elected officials are sure to take in the course of regular public meetings and functions.

Janet has expressed her support for and close relationship with Mr. Le. She has unbelievable audacity to impugn Assemblyman Tran’s record of fighting for freedom and democracy. This press conference is just a last minute smear campaign to divert attention from Janet’s failed Supervisorial race against Councilwoman Dina Nguyen and attorney Hoa Tran, in which Assemblyman Van Tran is not a candidate.