Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly Cleared of Allegations

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly has been cleared of an anonymous allegation he engaged in sexual misconduct, favoritism and cronyism.

The county hired an independent investigator, who concluded all the allegations in an anonymous letter in August were unfounded.

According to a memo provided by county human resources director Steve Danley, "There is no evidence to substantiate any of the allegations, and the evidence establishes, to the contrary, that Mr. Daly has not engaged in sexual misconduct or favoritism to those employees’.”

Daly issued a statement and called the claims against him a "pathetic attempt to smear me."

Not surprisingly, he also called the investigation a waste of tax dollars in a broken system that protects anonymous accusers manipulating the system in smear campaigns while failing to protect the privacy of the innocent.

Four women named in the letter with whom Daly was supposed to have engaged in inappropriate conduct made declarations—under penalty of perjury—that the letter's claims were false.

Daly, a mayor of Anaheim from 1992-2002, is a candidate for the state assembly in the 69th district.

Correction: An earlier headline on this story misspelled Daly's last name.