INVESTIGATE THE D.A.'s OFFICE

The FBI should investigate the Muskogee County District Attorney's
Office given the problems the state found with the bookkeeping in its
forfeiture cases.

Wednesday, State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan characterized the
books in John David Luton's office as a "mess."

While state Attorney General Drew Edmondson said Thursday that he
didn't believe the audits required an investigation, he admitted they
"suggest areas that need improvement."

Unfortunately, the attorney general ignores the fact the office was
told in 2002 its recordkeeping needed improvement. The failure of
Luton's office to take care of problems two years ago is, at the very
least, a sign of very poor management.

Muskogee citizens deserve better and a DA who follows state
forfeiture laws. Taxpayers are the ones who will be fiscally
accountable should lawsuits be filed and won because of the mess. Two
already are being heard in federal court. Since Edmondson's office
represents Luton in those cases, Edmondson should not be the one
deciding whether an investigation is needed.

An investigation is necessary because law enforcement scandals have
been uncovered across the country involving offices making deals with
drug offenders to drop or lower their charges in exchange for money
or vehicles. Those scandals and others have led to calls to end
federal grants that help fund local drug task forces. In fact,
President Bush has proposed an end to the grants next year.

If Luton or his office has done nothing wrong, then they have nothing
to fear from an investigation.

But even if it's simply a case of poor recordkeeping, it should not
be allowed to continue another day.