EDITORIAL: Publicity surroundinginvestigation makes charges suspect
When the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office aborted the recent investigation at the municipal building the day after opening it, it was clear someone wasted a lot of the prosecutor’s time.
Although the prosecutor doesn’t send a letter or response to people filing complaints, in this instance we wish he would and we wish he would add, "Knock it off."
News reports have indicated the matter in question concerned the allegedly improper use of municipal resources for campaign purposes by one of the 2002 Democratic candidates. After a few interviews, the prosecutor announced very publicly that the matter was closed and there was no basis for the investigation.
While we are strong believers that people who think they have witnessed a criminal act have an obligation to report it, in this case, the entire matter is suspect.
What makes it so suspect is the speed at which the news of the investigation was spread in fact, as county detectives were interviewing Township Administrator Judith Haas for whatever reason, someone was working the phones, spreading the news that the administration was being investigated.
The story was duly noted in the next day’s daily newspapers, which was why the Prosecutor’s Office took the unusual step the next day of announcing the investigation was over with no evidence of wrong-doing.
We can’t help but wonder why anyone would see it as in the community’s interest to broadcast news of an investigation.
For years, local pols have tried to create issues and advantages by filing lame lawsuits that never see the light of a courtroom, or half-hearted charges of malfeasance such as what happened two weeks ago.
The purpose of filing such claims seems not to be an expectation of redress or justice, but to create the illusion that something is wrong with local government, or obtain headlines for campaign flyers.
Which is why this newspaper strives to avoid being party to such ridiculous tactics by generally waiting until a judge hears the matter at hand, or charges are filed by the prosecutor.
Most of the time, that simple bar is high enough to prevent a political maneuver from becoming a news story.
There will always be competition between political parties and opposing viewpoints vying for control of government and that’s a great thing. Debate and discussion have proven the best way for citizens to stay informed.
But why dirty the water with something as empty and wasteful as a groundless investigation?

