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Monday, July 12, 2010
Ind. Gov't. - "Another judgment call in question"
That is the headline of this editorial today in the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes:
The biggest problem in being stuck with a prosecutor who has destroyed his own credibility is that every public decision he makes is now questioned based less on the facts at hand and more on the decision-maker's record of poor judgment. * * *[A]s has been demonstrated repeatedly in recent months, good judgment is not one of Carl Brizzi's strengths these days.
The prosecutor has entered into lucrative business deals with a prominent local defense attorney. He later intervened to strike a lenient plea deal for an accused drug dealer represented by that attorney.
Brizzi accepted $29,000 in campaign contributions from the father of a woman convicted of arranging her husband's death. He approved a deal that allowed the woman's early release from prison.
He's accepted expensive gifts from a close friend who is the subject of a federal investigation -- and refused to distance himself from that friend despite repeated warnings about potential trouble.
Brizzi's public image also was further eroded this spring when his predecessor and one-time mentor, Scott Newman, called on him to resign because of the high-profile scandals swirling around the prosecutor's office. * * *
Carl Brizzi is no longer able to correct anyone's bad judgment. His credibility is gone. His moral authority is gone. And it's another five months before he finally will be gone from office.
There's ample reason to fear that the public's trust will be ill served in the interim.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 12, 2010 07:50 AM
Posted to Indiana Government