This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Many of my friends share my view that Utah Attorney General John Swallow is being tried in the media without opportunity to effectively deny, refute, explain or justify his actions in relation to the accusations. What this newspaper in particular is doing to Swallow is unacceptable and should await revelation of the facts through a proper and balanced investigation.
We have a law that presumes innocence until proven guilty. It appears that this newspaper, however, has engaged in political bias and demonstrated outrageous willingness to damage reputations.
This a perfect example of how unproven accusations about an individual — whether ultimately true or untrue — are believed because of repetition, without any proof. This potential abuse can happen to you and me — bringing untold suffering and damage to the innocent.
There will be plenty of time to condemn and punish the convicted criminal, but it is impossible to undo the damage and restore the reputation of the individual who has been falsely accused or whose culpability was exaggerated.
Rather than rushing to judgment, we must wait for the facts to unfold.
Barbara Petty
Orem