Polk was right (and I was wrong) about Thomas

One of the characteristics of being a Christian is that you confess when you're wrong. So I need to confess that I was wrong in a previous post when Sheila Polk criticized Andrew Thomas.

My prediction was also wrong that she would vie for State AG. Whether she is posturing to be a judge someday remains to be seen. She pitched for Judge Brutinel when he applied to be a State Justice which is why I wonder.

I hope to develop this further later someday (but am juggling two federal civil right lawsuits right now) but as quick review, Maricopa Prosecutor Andrew Thomas had gone after a few County Supervisors and a judge in Maricopa County, seating a grand jury to investigate corruption. Eventually the matter was referred to Sheila Polk, the Yavapai County Prosecutor who took the unusual action of writing a letter to the Arizona Republic about the "abuses of power by Sheriff Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas."

I am still bothered by Mrs. Polk's hypocrisy for not proactively going after former judge hinson for his abuses (as documented in this blog) and I'm especially bothered by Mrs. Polk's hypocrisy for not (as far as I know) assigning an independent prosecutor to prosecute Judge Mary Hamm for ex parte communication and tampering with a court file, possible witness tampering, etc., which surely causes "tremendous damage . . . to the entire justice system." (The quote from Mrs. Polk in her letter to the editor.) Oh that she would have the same zeal in her own backyard.

In any event, after Rick Romley released the transcripts of Mr. Thomas' investigation weeks before our primary elections, including the Grand Jury transcripts (the timing of the release of the documents awfully suspicious, as is the act of unsealing Grand Jury testimony, but motives don't change truth), I am sad to say that Mr. Thomas sinned. It does, in fact, appear as though Mr. Thomas abused his power to after political enemies.

Unfortunately, prosecutors, like judges, enjoy some degree of immunity from prosecution. And "absolute immunity corrupts absolutely." You know the story about how federal prosecutors went after former Senator Ted Stevens and now face criminal charges themselves for prosecutorial misconduct. (Maybe not.)

See how Prescott Prosecutor Glenn Savona also abused his power by filing bogus charges ("criminal faxing") and by withholding exculpatory evidence against a citizen who complained about a judge.

So what happened? Mr. Thomas seemed like such a good guy, which is why I gave him the benefit of the doubt. (And too, going after a judge is a righteous move, don't you think?)

There is a warning in the Bible that no one thinks applies to them. The Apostle Paul says: "Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33)

In this case, the bad company is Sheriff Joe.

I like what Sheriff Joe has done with criminals. But when it comes to his political enemies, he clearly abuses his power. Just ask Dan Saban.

I think that the good Mr. Thomas got too close to the bad Sheriff Joe. And, again, as Paul warned, bad company corrupts good character.

Mr. Thomas lost the primary and is not in the running for State AG. There's some justice in that.

And Mrs. Polk was right about Mr. Thomas and was right to raise a "hue and cry."

Now, if only she would raise a hue and cry about the corruption in the Prescott court system.