Tensions Growing In Dallas County DA's Office

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DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - Tensions are growing in the Dallas County District Attorney's office… as the new DA fended off questions about her leadership and addressed reports that she went into drug rehab while campaigning for office in 2013.

Susan Hawk sent the CBS 11 I-Team a statement saying reports of her drug use were started by "a disgruntled former employee…"

She continued, "I have a serious back condition. A doctor prescribed me medicine over a year and a half ago …I decided I did not want to take it anymore, and I got help to quit taking it… and haven't taken any since."

Bill Wirskye, Hawk's former chief deputy, told the I-Team that she initially falsely accused him of criminal conduct. She withdrew that accusation, Wirskye said, but then fired him earlier this week.

In a statement to the I-Team, Wirskye said that "the citizens should be proud of the DA's office regardless of the individual leadership at the top…"

Multiple sources have told the I-Team Hawk has behaved erratically in the last several weeks.

Until these recent developments, Hawk and Wirskye were close friends, and he supported her efforts to become Dallas County's first female DA.

Wirskye had also made headlines recently as the special lead prosecutor in the death conviction of Eric Williams, found guilty in the killings of an East Texas district attorney and his wife.

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