No Comments! Be The First!
John Gill speaks on special prosecutor issue
Posted By katie allison granju
Story is now updated with Gill’s comments:
Elaborating on Nichols’ letter John Gill, Special Counsel, Knox County District Attorney General’s Office said, “We have an obligation to review any allegation of this kind and determine if there is any basis for it. If there were a case in which, even if the allegations were true, it would not constitute a violation, we’re not going to refer that to another prosecutor’s office and use those resources. ”
Gill added, “This rises to a different level, because you’re going to have to do a more extensive investigation involving complex statutes and regulations covering government finances in Knox County and Tennessee, bringing in expert lawyers and investigators, to determine whether or not to move forward. Once that point is reached, an office, which like ours, receives most of it funding at the recommendation of the County Mayor and approval of the County Commission needs to step aside in favor of special prosecutors in whose total independence the public and everyone else involved cannot question. By bringing another prosecutor in, we are in no way implying that a violation has occurred.”
Gill went on to say that the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office refers 4 to 5 matters to special prosecutors each year due to various potential conflicts.
Jul 1st, 2008
