Saturday, June 20, 2009

Does the NFL have higher ethical standards than the U.S. Senate?

The State's Attorney for Sagamon County, Illinois which includes Springfield has decided that he lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute Roland Burris for perjury for the lies of omission Burris used to obtain his Senate seat. The level of evidence needed for a jury to convict  Burris is very high.

About the same time as the state's attorney was declining to prosecute Burris, NFL Commissioner Goodell issued his decision regarding Cleveland Browns' player Donte Stallworth. Stallworth had successfully minimized the criminal consequences for having killed someone while driving drunk. Goodell judged that the resolution of the criminal charges did not shield Stallworth from further civil consequences. Goodell indefinitely suspended Stallworth.

The Senate Ethics Committee continues to review what Burris said and withheld. They would do well to follow Goodell's example.

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