Jeff Ashton ‘surprised’ over George Anthony visit - WESH

by mom_in_il Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:51 pm

Jeff Ashton ‘surprised’ over George Anthony visit
George Anthony congratulates Jeff Ashton over win

UPDATED 12:18 PM EDT Aug 15, 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. - Casey Anthony’s father, George Anthony, was one of the first people to congratulate Jeff Ashton after winning the Orange-Osceola State Attorney race, but the prosecutor said he was surprised by Anthony’s visit.

“It was totally unexpected. I was surprised to see him, but happy to see him,” Ashton said.

Ashton was one of three lead prosecutors who tried the Casey Anthony murder case in the summer of 2011.

Ashton said his Tuesday night exchange with Anthony was brief and cordial.

“He just said, ‘Congratulations, you worked hard for this and deserve it,’” Ashton said.

Ashton wrote a book, “Imperfect Justice,” about the Casey Anthony case. He will wrap up promoting it before he takes office in January.

The trial may have leveled the playing field in terms of name recognition, according to Ashton, but he does not believe it was the reason he beat incumbent Lawson Lamar in the race.

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