When good Prosecutors go Bad

Seems like only yesterday I was ripping New York's former Gubner Eliot Spitzer a new one, and it was only yesterday. Now its former Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison's turn. I caught his mini press conference on Fox 4 last night. Morrison was attempting to sound as if his glory days as the defender of justice are still in the here and now. He was talking in to the camera and assuring us that he was still one of the good guys. In his best long suffering voice , with a twist of righteous indignation he claimed that JO CO D A Phil Kline was waging a smear campaign. "He said Kline has accused him of blackmail, witness tampering and obstruction of justice even though charges have not yet been filed." Morrison went on to say that the investigation had nothing to do with justice and everything to do with a political vendetta. And that may or may not be true, in fact Id bet the farm that statement holds at least a degree of truthiness.

Here is where Morrison's cries of foul take a nose dive in to the proverbial toilet. Morrison was having an affair with one of the Jo Co prosecutors staff members. pun intended. The woman claims Morrison was trying to influence cases that Kline was prosecuting, she filed a complaint with the EEOC. Morrison readily admits to the affair , but denies any allegations of impropriety or tampering.

Whether the allegations turn out to be true or false is irrelevant at this early stage of the game. What is important is that the wheels of justice are turning. Rather than whimpering that the case is all lies, Morrison should be eager to prove his innocence and restore a few shreds of credibility to his sullied reputation. Kline's motivation is also beside the point. What is important is that Morrison be held to the same standard as everyone he prosecuted over an 18 year period in Jo Co and during his tenure as AG. Anyone who has ever been involved in a sexual relationship with a co worker knows that pillow talk always gets around to the job. Morrison would have us believe that he held firmly to his moral and ethical beliefs in regard to the law, while simultaneously forsaking his moral obligation to his family. That's pretty thin in my opinion.

I believe there is some truth to Kline's accusations and here is why. Paul Morrison's political career was already down the tubes prior to the investigation Kline instigated. Kline won. Phil Kline is a smarmy, condescending prick, make no mistake about it. What Kline is not, is stupid. If there was no merit to these charges, if Kline wasn't relatively confident in his accusations, he would never have gone this far. He wouldn't have sullied what for him was a sweet victory.