Deseret Morning News, Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Prosecutors out of line

Federal prosecutors are out of control. I cite two cases, the Olympic bribery trial and the chemical weapons chief from the Tooele nerve gas incinerators.

Prosecutors submitted evidence and testimony riddled with inaccuracies concerning written regulations, later admitting the weapons chief more clearly knew the regulations both forward and backward. Prosecutors never provided the jury with the newer regulations. After the jury gave them a win, prosecutors admitted the regulation did not exist.

During a hearing for a retrial, a federal judge forgave the prosecution for giving confused and inaccurate testimony against the chief and admitted she was totally confused. She demanded sentencing anyway.

Sadly, the motives of federal prosecutors determine the fine line of who to bless and who to destroy.

Chris Brown

Salt Lake City