 |
 |
|
Judge Dismisses Bribery Case Charges
The Olympic bribery scandal erupted almost exactly three years ago, and Thursday a federal judge may have written its final chapter. News Specialist John Daley reports.
|
(Nov. 15, 2001)------
Poll Results: Most Utahns Think Judge Made Right Decision
The federal judge in the bribery case
Thursday dismissed all remaining charges against two former top bid leaders -- Dave Johnson and Tom Welch.
For them, it's a big victory. For the prosecution, a possibly fatal setback.
News Specialist John Daley was the first to reach Tom Welch with the news.
Tom Welch had one word--"Yahoo!"
As the former top leaders of the Organizing Committee, he and Dave Johnson were accused of cheating to win the Games for Salt Lake, of lavishing a million dollars in goodies on voting IOC members.
But for now, Judge David Sam has pulled the plug on this case.
What an odyssey it's been for Welch and Johnson. First, they were Olympic leaders--heroes for winning the Games for Salt Lake.
Then they were branded cheaters by government prosecutors who charged them with 15 counts of fraud, bribery and conspiracy for the way they won the Games.
Now, they MAY be on their way to becoming something else: ordinary, free citizens.
Thursday, Judge Sam, who earlier dismissed four bribery charges, dropped the other 11 counts.
Sam called the governement case "defective" and ruled that without the bribery charges, the others must go as well.
When KSL-TV first told Welch the news, he said: "Yahoo! I always believed that this day would come and never lost faith in the legal process. It was a case that never should have been brought and never would have happened had there not been a lapse of courage and honesty on the part of others."
"I'm thankful the Games can now go forward in the proper light."
Max Wheeler/Attorney for Dave Johnson: "WE ARE VERY PLEASED OBVIOUSLY WITH THE JUDGE'S DECISION. IT'S NOT FULLY UNEXPECTED. BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE IT DONE AND GET THIS BURDEN LIFTED OFF THE JOHNSON FAMILY."
At a news conference, Mitt Romney said his lawyers told him a conviction was unlikely.
Mitt Romney/SLOC President: "WE ARE NOT REALLY SURPRISED BY THE RESPONSE. AS I SAID, OUR LAWYERS SAID THIS FOUR MILLION DOLLARS AGO."
The scandal unfolded on the watch of Governor Mike Leavitt, who says he wishes Welch and Johnson well.
Gov. Mike Leavitt/(R) Utah: "THEY BOTH MADE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CAPACITY TO GET THE GAMES. THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT, BRUISING TIME, PARTICULARLY FOR THEM AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I HOPE THEY NOW ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE WHAT BENEFIT AND WHATEVER CREDIT THAT'S DESERVED, AND IT'S PLENTIFUL."
This does not necessarily mean the end of this case.
Justice Department prosecutors have appealed the charges that were dropped earlier. No word yet on whether they'll appeal this latest move.
They invested a lot of time and money in this case, and have said they were very confident in the case.
