Aug. 10, 2001

The judge in Salt Lake's Olympic bid case is explaining why he dismissed 4 of the 15 counts against bid leaders Tom Welch and Dave Johnson.

In his 29 page opinion released yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Judge David Sam called federal prosecutors "misguided" for trying to link the Federal Travel Act to a rarely used Utah bribery law.

Judge Sam wrote, "A federal criminal prosecution where an individual's reputation and liberty are at stake is not the place to experiment with novel interpretations of state law."

Sam says it would be absurd to think the Utah Legislature ever intended the law to apply to Olympic lobbying.

He has yet to rule on 11 other counts in the indictment.

Prosecutors may still appeal Sam's ruling.