No one made any request to me to publish a link to Rick’s response, including Rick Koerber. However, Jason did publish the link in another post on this site. Here’s the link again: http://tinyurl.com/ny5c5x

It’s a little work to get through it, but I highly recommend! Check out Rick’s post!

It’s understandable why it sometimes seems that way. I believe that 95% of Legislators are probably pretty upstanding, ethical people. For example, the Cache County delegation is solid. It’s the 5% that draw attention to themselves through unethical behavior.

David James,

Regarding trust, you make a completely legitimate argument. I guess the only distinction I would throw in for discussion is that a unfaithful spouse demonstrates the ability/propensity to betray the public, while an official who intervenes in an investigation actually does betray the public.

It’s no secret I admire Mark Shurtleff. I think he’s a great AG. However, his choice to meet with Koerber at Wimmer’s request was a huge mistake. Shurtleff should have done what the Governor did- not meet with Koerber. But he did, and now it is very reasonable to wonder why he didn’t prosecuter Koerber. Even if Shurtleff did have legitimate reasons for declining to prosecute, the meeting casts shadows on that decision. It also doesn’t help that Bret Tolman reached a different decision.

Wimmer stands apart from Shurtleff. There is no evidence that Shurtleff sought to have Francine Giani, or anyone else, punished for investigating Koerber. Unlike Wimmer, Shurtleff had no previous ties to Koerber or his business (Keorber had made donations to Wimmers campaign and had coordinated political efforts with him). While there is circumstantial evidence Shurtleff may have inappropriately used his discretion by not prosecuting Koerber, in contrast there is pretty solid evidence that Wimmer tried to intimidate investigators as a favor for Koerber.

Do you ever plan on dropping that man crush you have on Mark Shurtleff and holding him just as accountable as Mr. Wimmer? Sure justice is blind, but not when dealing with an old “buddy.”

http://kvnuforthepeople.com/2008/05/07/tom-grover-rebuked-for-calling-utah-ag-mark-shurtleff-buddy/

Second, you asserted that the breaking of public trust is far worse than breaking family trusts. I don’t agree. The old saying is that if a person will lie to his family he will lie to everyone. I have found it to be true. Thus the outrage when family trust is broken. Many of us assume that means the public trust is broken as well. As a result, we have little trust in the person regardless of political persuasion until amends are made. If the broken trust is serious enough, we many never trust the person again.