In Ross Mirkarimi's misconduct hearings, the sidelined Sheriff's wife is apparently ready to give her own testimony before the city's Ethics Commission — but only if the City agrees to fly her back from Venezuela first. As Lopez's attorney Paula Canny told Chronicle reporters Mustache & Mustache, if the city wants her to testify, "it's only fair that they pay to bring her here."

Because the city allowed Lopez to decamp to Venezuela and even extended her stay while she looks for work and tends to her ailing father, Canny has been asked to appear before the commission to outline how and when Lopez will be available. Canny, who filed her own ethics complaint against Mayor Lee, explained that the Mayor's office or City Attorney are the only ones with enough cash to book Lopez a roundtrip ticket from Caracas. And those aren't cheap either, a casual search for flights from Simon Bolivar International to SFO are in the ballpark of $1,200 - $2,200 even if her travel dates are flexible. We'd be willing to bet she doesn't want to connect in Toronto either.

Anyhow, the City Attorney's office isn't ready to start cashing in their airline miles for Lopez just yet — at least not until she files the official paperwork declaring her intent and willingness to testify. Although if the city wants to cut some corners here they ought to just send another reporter down there and get her in to the hearings via video chat. This is 2012, San Francisco has that technology, right?

Previously: All Ross Mirkarimi coverage on SFist
[Chron]