Newly released bodycam footage from the Fairfax County Police Department shows Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Clingan cited for drinking in public behind a Centreville, Virginia, strip mall on Aug. 8.
Clingan, 57, was issued a summons for the Class 4 misdemeanor and released without arrest.
Officers noted the smell of alcohol but did not administer a sobriety test, instead providing Clingan a ride home in the front seat of a police cruiser at his request.
The video captures officers recognizing Clingan immediately. When questioned, he initially denied drinking, later admitting to consuming one beer.
Clingan handed officers his business card and acknowledged the situation’s optics.
“This looks terrible, and I get it,” he said.
Officers ultimately concluded he was not scheduled for court that day and escorted him home to prevent potential safety risks, ABC7 reports.
Clingan has served in the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office since October 2021, handling some of the county’s most high-profile cases, including the “au pair affair” double-murder trial scheduled for next month.
Before joining the office, Clingan maintained a private law practice focused on criminal defense and family law.
In 2011, he ran as a Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, challenging Republican incumbent Jim LeMunyon in the 67th District.
After being raised in a conservative household, Clingan changed his political affiliation to Democrat in 2004, citing disagreements with certain Republican policies.
According to multiple witnesses, Clingan had been seen drinking and smoking in the Centreville strip mall area several times in the preceding weeks.
Employees at local businesses noted the behavior occurred during weekdays around 7:30–8 a.m., sometimes with Clingan dressed in business attire.
Officers expressed concern about his potential to report to work impaired, though Clingan maintained he was not intoxicated and had no court obligations that morning.
The incident has renewed criticism of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, whose office has faced scrutiny for handling other cases with perceived leniency.
Previously, the office declined to prosecute a registered sex offender accused of repeatedly exposing himself in locker rooms.
In another case, prosecutors negotiated a lenient plea for an individual accused of grooming a 14-year-old, a decision criticized for prioritizing procedural convenience over victim protections, according to The Western Journal.
Following the Aug. 8 incident, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office placed Clingan on leave to address the matter, emphasizing his focus on personal issues.
Officers reportedly accommodated Clingan’s request to wait until his wife left the house before dropping him off, highlighting his concern about personal embarrassment.
A court hearing for the public drinking citation is scheduled for Oct. 23.
Legal analysts say the episode underscores potential concerns about accountability and standards for senior legal officials.
Critics argue that public trust can be undermined when prosecutors, who are responsible for enforcing the law, are seen flouting it themselves.
The incident also raises questions about how political and professional pressures intersect in Fairfax County’s prosecutor’s office, particularly amid high-profile cases that draw national attention.
As the county evaluates the situation, the Clingan case serves as a reminder that public officials are held to strict standards of conduct, both on and off the clock.
Observers note that while Clingan was not in court that day, the appearance of impropriety can have lasting implications for confidence in local law enforcement and the justice system.
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