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To the Editor:

There appears to be a stench emanating from APD headquarters. And a bit from the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office as well. January 2nd seems to be the day the unwelcome aroma filled the air.

That was the day that the US Attorney notified DA Sam Bregman of a confidential investigation into an alleged criminal conspiracy involving at least four APD officers. As we now know, the conspiracy involved a large number of DWI cases. What was District Attorney Bregman’s response after being notified of the covert Federal investigation? Hold a press conference to announce it and dismiss 195 DWI cases. At that point, in the very beginning, and before any public comments, he had a duty to recuse himself as he represented three defendants that were arrested by an officer involved in the alleged conspiracy. And all three of those DWI cases were dismissed. Bregman seems to love press conferences and photo ops. Otherwise, why would he go public and allow potential conspirators to begin the task of destroying documents that would incriminate them and their staff?

The appropriate response from Bregman should have been to maintain confidentiality; that’s what responsible, level-headed District Attorneys would have done.

As the DWI investigation unfolds and the stench gets thicker, there are at least four APD officers involved in the scheme to intentionally and criminally assist in the apparent bribery/kickback scheme. Why does that matter? Because the community deserves to know that public corruption is being investigated appropriately, with integrity, and without the appearance of conflicts of interest. Now that the toxic stink has taken on a life of its own with the much-needed investigation into public corruption by APD officers, a local attorney, and his staff, it’s time for District Attorney Bregman to recuse himself from any, and all involvement in the DWI cases and the resulting corruption investigation. Better late than never.

Recusal in the name of public trust is required. That’s what we should all expect from a public servant.

Jeffrey Paul is the author author of Inside Politics in America: A View from the Outside. He lives in Albuquerque, NM