Plea Bargain Talks Break Down
July 18, 2000
The two leaders of the Utah
Winter Olympics bid have
told the federal government
they won't make a deal.
Discussions over a plea
bargain have been called off after a stalemate that now
means a long and tortuous trial could mar Utah's
showcase winter games. News Specialist John Daley
explains what's ahead.
Talks are off, and that means federal charges appear
to be on, possibly coming down within the next few
days. It also means that in federal court sometime next
year, we could see the state's most high-profile court
case ever.
Five years ago they were heroes who'd returned with
the big prize--the 2002 Games. Now, they're looking
like the starring cast of prime witnesses in the Trial of
2002.
Indictments could come down within the next week
for former bid leaders Tom Welch and Dave Johnson,
according to Johnson's attorney Max Wheeler, after
negotations broke down Tuesday with federal
prosecutors.
Max Wheeler, Dave Johnson's atty: "THEIR OFFER,
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IS THAT THEY'RE
ASKING US TO ADMIT TO THINGS THAT WE
BELIEVE ARE UNTRUE. THEY ARE ASKING
US TO ADMIT THAT CERTAIN THINGS WERE
DONE WITH CRIMINAL INTENT AND WITH
EVIL MOTIVES AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE
TRUTH."
Wheeler says there appears to be no budging on the
part of the Justice Department, and that lawyers for
Welch and Johnson likewise are in no mood to
compromise, though that's still a remote possibility.
Former federal prosecutor and Washington lawyer
Robert Litt says, from the point of view of
prosecutors, quote: "There's no case so strong that
you won't take a reasonable plea. It depends on the
strength of your case."
Meantime, the legal costs just keep mounting. Welch's
Washington DC attorney charges upwards of $500 an
hour, and Olympic organizers have already paid
roughly $1-million on legal fees for Welch and
Johnson. If it goes to trial, the SLOC's total estimated
legal fees could be in the ballpark of $3 million-$6
million.
Meantime in Washington, the head of the Senate
Judiciary Committee reiterated his call for Justice to
make its move.
Sen. Orrin Hatch/(R) Utah: "IT'S UP
TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO EITHER
INDICT OR NOT TO INDICT. I JUST
HOPE THEY DO IT EXPEDITIOUSLY SO
THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH
THIS DURING THE CRUCIAL TIME OF THE
OLYMPICS."
Of course, it`s possible a plea deal could still be
worked out anytime between now and when a trial
would presumably start sometime next fall. But
lawyers for both sides for now are making noises like
they're preparing to go to war.
