August 20, 2008

They're Neck Deep In It

Terry Frank explains in great detail why the Bredesen administration should not be trusted to oversee the investigation into the politically connected state trooper who was illegally rummaging through the not-public criminal records of hundreds of Tennesseans. She's right. After all, this is an administration which in past scandals has shredded documents to protect administration staffers, and which in the past traded promotions for campaign donations from state troopers.

There are two people connected to the Bredesen administration who my sources inform me are extremely nervous about the investigation into Lt. Ronnie Shirley's activities, a nervousness that would go away if, A) the governor can keep this thing from being investigated by the Feds, and, B) the governor can convince the media to portray the whole thing as the rogue and non-political actions of one stupid, nosey trooper who was showing off for his friends.

But a 20-year-veteran of the Tennessee Highway Patrol with a past history of corrupt action on behalf of the Bredesen administration doesn't do that kind of thing without being put up to it by someone. The fastest route to resolving this is for Lt. Shirley to contact a federal prosecutor and seek immunity from prosecution for abuse of power in exchange for fingering the lead conspirators in the crime.