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So, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated 15 criminal charges against Tom Welch and Dave Johnson.
What good will come of it?
In overturning the November 2001 decision of District Court Judge David Sam to drop the charges, the appellate court claims the U.S. Justice Department "has an undeniable interest in denouncing corruption in the selection process for the host city of the Olympic Games."
Can’t argue with that!
Corruption, in all its forms, ought to be denounced.
When Salt Lake City’s bid became suspect, KSL joined in a chorus of "corruption denouncers."
Dirty laundry got aired! The local Olympic organization underwent a housecleaning. The International Olympic Committee implemented significant reforms. And Utah went on to produce the most successful Olympic Winter Games in history.
The bid scandal is water under the bridge.
There’s no need to prolong the government’s ill-advised case just so the citizenry can see a few prominent people squirm on the witness stand.
Plenty of blemishes endure. But most enduring should be the legacy of a highly successful international athletic and cultural extravaganza that united a nation and a world in a time of great need.
In KSL’s view, nothing good will come from pursuing the case against Welch and Johnson.
