Posted on 12/25/2004 1:35:13 PM PST by Dubya
WASHINGTON - Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland's guilty plea Thursday to a felony charge makes him only the latest in what is a steadily growing number of federal corruption prosecutions focusing on government officials.
Although totals have not been released, the number of such cases pursued by federal authorities has grown by as much as 15 percent over the last four years, according to a Justice Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The increase, the official said, reflects the high priority placed on public corruption cases rather than a sudden spike in the number of dishonest politicians.
But the steady slide of high-profile public officials into ethical and criminal scandals risks fostering increasing distrust of government leaders.
"The government is wounded," Connecticut House Majority Leader James Amann said. "It's something most of us are concerned about. Most people have their hearts in the right place -- to serve the public. But no matter how well you construct the laws and make the rules, there will always be the ones who decide to break the law."
In recent months, two governors have resigned in disgrace and a presidential Cabinet nominee withdrew his name amid controversy over a nanny-housekeeper he employed.
Ethical missteps, ranging from improper campaign contributions and gifts to racketeering and tax fraud, have led to the downfall of congressmen. President Clinton's dalliance with a White House intern led to his impeachment by the House, though he survived a Senate trial and finished his term in office.
In 2000, federal authorities indicted 1,000 public officials, according to Justice Department statistics. By 2002, the number increased to 1,136, while the 2003 figure, not yet released, stayed relatively stable. The 2004 total will be up again, reflecting up to a 15 percent increase over the 2000 figure, the Justice Department official said.
However, he added, "I don't think there is more public corruption than 10 years ago or 20 years ago. I think we're doing a better job of finding it and prosecuting it."
Justice officials have said that although counterterrorism remains the department's top priority, ferreting out public corruption also ranks very high.
In response, a number of U.S. attorneys nationwide have set up special units to target corrupt politicians, focusing on election violations and campaign finance investigations.
Lawmakers are also taking notice.
"There is a greater awareness on the part of public officials that government needs to be run in an ethical way, by ethical people," said Peggy Kerns, director of the Center for Ethics in Government at the National Conference of State Legislatures.
IN THE KNOW
Public corruption
• In the most recent cases of corruption among public officials:
• Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal honest service in connection with a two-year investigation of corruption in his administration.
• New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey stepped down after acknowledging he'd had an affair with another man.
• Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his name from nomination as homeland security secretary after revealing that he had not paid all required taxes for a family nanny-housekeeper and that the woman may have been in the country illegally.
SOURCE: The Associated Press ONLINE: Justice Department, www.doj.gov; National Conference of State Legislatures, www.ncsl.org
I wonder what Mary Jo Kopechne would say.
"They'll always make a big deal of going after bit players so we don't focus our attention back to Jay Rockefeller, Sandy Berger, or HILLARY!"
But why? Why aren't these people subject to prosecution?
I get riled when I see anyone on these boards praise John Ashcroft. Quite a few BIG FISH have gotten away with murder on his watch.
Pathetic, absolutely pathetic!
It is because of Karl Rove and the eeeeeeeeevil republican conspiracy.< /sarcasm > They are actually starting to do the job they were suppose to do 12 years ago.
Please, please come to New York and concentrate in Albany and Manhattan.
Someone somewhere has got to help us!
Well said!
Thanks.
The increase, the official said, reflects the high priority placed on public corruption cases rather than a sudden spike in the number of dishonest politicians
I am shocked to think that there might not have been much effort put forth to nab corrupt politicians by the Clinton Department of Justice.
The FBI needs to launch a major investigation in the State of Washington. They need to investigate the King County election board, the activities of Christine Gregoire, and most of all they need to investigate the Washington State Democrat Party organization
"The way of the [little] transgressor is hard."
Due to the leadership and example set by the President. I know it doesn't say that, but it is why.
Watch for more 'exorcisms' in the political arena, more polarization, and more Kerryism.
The FBI and the US Attorney need to get with the program, They have told me they are too busy to investigate and prosecute public corruption in the state of Washington.
Why is the indicted EX IL Governor and soon to be CONVICTED FELON George Ryan (RINO) not mentioned or his top aide, Scott Fawell. Then there's the fifty-six(?) EX IL state employees who were all tied in with Ryan and his bribery schemes and who have already been convicted of Federal corruption crimes and who are now sitting in the slammer .
Ryan's overt and BLATANT criminality put Rowland, McGreevey and especially Kerik in the kindergarten class of corrupt pols.
(1) - I'm slightly kidding, but our crooked IL pols practically wrote the book on breaking the law.
Hope you get some help.
We need some in Ft. Worth and Texas in general.
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