THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170195
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Consider this remarkable concatenation of events:
1. The Virginian-Pilot's Laura LaFay and Margaret Edds reported Thursday that the state internal auditor had completed a probe of allegations that State Parole Board Chairman John B. Metzger III kept inmates jailed by illegally backdating papers and had violated parole board policies.
Metzger also had been accused of sexual and racial harassment.
2. Metzger resigned Thursday. Secretary of Public Safety Jerry W. Kilgore issued a statement thanking Metzger ``for his dedicated public service to the Commonwealth . . .''
3. A Kilgore press release says the auditor concluded that ``while there may have been clerical errors and processing delays, there was no evidence indicating any deliberate falsification of warrants or warrant dates. The auditor found no factual basis for concluding that any criminal misconduct occurred.
``The auditor also reported on various management issues and found that Mister Metzger had made some inappropriate comments.''
In the wake of what smacks of being a whitewash, some questions should be addressed by Gov. George ``Honest Change'' Allen.
Why do Allen and Kilgore refuse to release the auditor's report?
If the report is as innocuous as they would have us believe, why are they intent on covering it up?
Who made possible ``clerical errors and processing delays?''
Are any inmates behind bars who should have been released?
If so, might they sue for civil rights violations?
Is it sufficient for only the auditor to conclude that there is no factual basis that any criminal misconduct occurred?
Would the governor welcome a probe by the Virginia State Police and a bipartisan survey by the Virginia General Assembly?
What were ``the inappropriate comments'' Metzger made?
During the recent General Assembly campaign, Gov. Allen espoused a get-tough policy on lawbreakers.
Does he exempt possible violations within his administration from the severe scrutiny that might fall upon citizens at large?
What does Attorney General James Gilmore, usually so voluble on crime prevention, have to say about possible violations within the State Parole Board?
Does Gilmore intend to look into clerical errors and processing delays?
Do Gilmore and Allen have a public duty to deal with the effect of the allegations on the Allen administration's major program junking a parole system and building millions of dollars worth of prisons?
Would it not be wise of Allen and Gilmore, if they have aspirations for other high offices, to answer questions now rather than being harangued on the campaign trail?
Finally, one for the public:
Do you believe the report should be withheld from you? ILLUSTRATION: Color photo [Metzger]
Would it not be wise of Allen and Gilmore, if they have aspirations
for other high offices, to answer questions now rather than being
harangued on the campaign trail?
by CNB