"I want to assure everyone, particularly all those involved with us in bringing the Olympics to Utah, that David Johnson and I committed no crime. We worked as hard as we could to win the bid ... If I could do anything to save us all this ordeal I would. But to have to plead guilty to something I did not do would be wrong." _ Tom Welch, former president of the Salt Lake Bid Committee, indicted Thursday on fraud and aid to racketeering charges.
"What the government is doing from a moral standpoint is far worse than what Johnson and Welch ever did. It's not going to cause harm only to Welch or Johnson. It will cause irreparable harm to other people in this community and the effort to put on successful games." _ Max Wheeler, Dave Johnson's attorney.
"It separates the two arenas. The legal activity will now focus on the past and the individuals that are separated from the games. The games themselves can operate in the arena of excitement and opportunity that you normally associate with the Olympics." _ U.S. Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah.
"The trial could color the pride of a community and the nation. I hope it doesn't. I believe the alleged wrongdoing here is an indictment of a very few people, not the committee, community or Olympians." _ Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney.
"The serious nature of these charges reflects just how far the process has gone awry and just how great the need for reform and accountability is. I hope this sends a strong signal to the IOC about the need to follow through on promised reform." _ Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and an IOC critic.
"It doesn't seem logical or conceivable that such an intricate conspiracy, which is one of the main counts of the indictment, really could have been carried out by these two men alone. The questions of who knew what and when, and who suggested what and when, will come out through the deposition process and the trial process. I think that's good, because it's the satisfaction that the public needs, particularly the citizens of Utah." _ Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, whose district includes Salt Lake City.
"This a difficult day for our community, but the reason we have courts is to sort through and resolve complex and painful matters. I feel sadness for those who are personally affected. My deepest desire is for this to be resolved for our entire community." _ Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt.
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV 07-20-00 1717MDT
