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Show The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Toesday > June 10, 2003 Ds Hatch UnderFire for Lack ofPunch as Judiciary Chair Weak oversight? The Utah senator rejects criticism on canceled hearings announce that his committee planned hearings. “It looks as though somebody in the Bu Prisons or having relationships with the Bureau of Prisons murdered the man,” he told then Attorney General Janet Reno at one point By Joun SOLOMON This week, Hatch said he believes his early andaggressivetactics forced the Justice Depart The AssociatedPress WASHINGTON On TVand onpaper, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Orrin Hatch pledged to hold hearings into the deathof a federal prisoner the government says hanged him self even though the victim's throat was cut and his face bruised andbloodied. Hatch, R-Utah, suggested as long as six years ago that the death was a murderat the hand of government employees andthere was an “aroma of a cover-up.” A federal court recently awarded the prisoner’s family $1.1 million for intentional infliction ofpain for misleading thefamily about the case. But Hatch’s hearings never materialized Davy Cutan La/The Salt Lake Tribune one of several examplescritic: hasn’t been aggressive enoughas Jeff Sait and Utah HighwayPatrol Lt. Randall Richey shake hands after being awarded Utah's first Rachael tice Department. Hatch rejects the criticism, saying he has a lengthy record of questioning FBI and Justice wrongdoing “andwill doso againif warranted.” Internal FBI memosobtained by The Associ. Citizen, Trooper Are Honored for Help in Foiling Abductions By TasHa WILLIAMS ‘The Salt Lake Tribune deff Salt was driving near the Jordan River on Jan. 29 when hespotted three adults walking with an infant. Aware that police were looking for a homeless trio who hadallegedly taken a baby from a downtown mall, he called Salt Lake City dispatchers. ‘Thecall helped lead to the recovery of 2-monthold Nicholas Triplett. On Monday, Salt was one of two men honored with thestate’s first Rachael Runyan Awards, named for a 3-year-old Sunset girl whowas abducted and murdered in 1982. Salt said he was just lucky to be in the right place atthe right time. “If you don’t think yourtip is going to be accu: rate, let the law enforcement people figure that out,” he said. “Don't stop looking.” Elaine Runyan-Simmons, Rachael Runyan’s mother, presented Salt and Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Randall Richey the awards, which recognized their asi in rescuing two children this year. Both men were aware of the abductions via Rachael and Amberalerts, which notify the public of child kidnappings via television, radio, fliers and highwaysigns. Utah began a Rachael Alert system in April 2002; it was replaced by the national Amber Alert in April. “We are no longer being sucked into the middle ofanightmarethat yourchild is kidnapped with no help and nowhereto turn,” Runyan-Simmons said. require congressional review, and that such ac: FBI agents wrotein a Jan. 28, 1998, memo summariz- ing their contacts with Nickles. the cell belonged to Trentadue. But oneof the sameagents who briefed Nick- longed to someone other than Trentadue and which wasnevertested for DNA. After Trentadue’s body was found, with his face bloodied and bruised and his throat cut, prisonofficials concluded he hanged himself. The local medical examiner openly questioned the Of the four Amber alerts connected to Utah this year, three ofthe children werefound. Thefourth is conclusion. 19-month-old Acacia Bishop, whose grandmotheris charged with kidnapping and murder in the case. Acacia disappeared May 26andis still missing. Internal probes by the government reaffirmed the suicide ruling but found Justice employees hadlied during the case and that evidence was mishandled, including a bloody sheet that was stuffed in an FBI carand putrefied, destroying its value as evidence, ‘The FBI's meetings with Nickles occurredjust weeks after Hatch sent out a news release to In the Triplett case, the three adults were origi. nally charged with child kidnapping, but the cases sed last month after the mother, Jennifer Triplett, failed to appeartotestify, Her sonis nowin protective custody in California. as well as a tum in Salt Lake City. Lee’s appointment Mondaycame nearly one year after Mary Pat Matheson left the post for a similar po- master offin ance degree. His pro. sition in Atlanta. “The board and staff are very fessional experience in- excited about Lee joining us and providing leadership for the cludes eight years as ex- coming years,” said MandySelf, ecutive director of the Thomas I, Dodge Nature Centerin St. Paul, Minn.; a stint as assistant dean ofbio- confident that Greg is theright person to lead the garden,” Lino said ina statement. Lee's background of academic credentials, hands-on experience running a garden and significant fund-raising experience were taken into consideration, Lino said. When he visited Red Butte Garden, Lee said he was im Gregory Lee Takes jobin Utah logical sciences at University of California, Davis, and an appointment as executive director of the Humboldt State Univer: sity Foundation. Lee also worked as a faculty member at pressed with the progress it has made in its 18-year history. “Progress like this could only have occurred with a talented anddedicatedstaff and board of directors and strong community and university support,” he said ina statement. “With this kindof support, commitment andtalent, the Red Butte Garden and Arbo- retumis well on its way tobecoming oneof the nation’s finest gardens.” With more than 150 acres of gardens and natural area, Red cation and horticulture building UC Davis. at the 150-acre botanical garden and arboretum. The garden’s administration building is now a his wife, Linda Carr-Lee, and Butte two sons, Utahis thelargest botanical and ecological center in the Inter. mountain West that tests, dis: He will be moving here with Chris Lino, chairman of the search committee, said the Gardenat the University of group chose Lee after an exten: plays and sive national search “The search committee is horticulture, the news release said interprets regional | brother and a Utah er. “Weareobsessed by the notion that Kenny’s death is due a certain amountofjustice.” Kris Kolesnik, a former GOP Judiciary Com mittee investigator who worked the Trentadue case, said Hatch missed an opportunity to hold Justice officials accountable. “It was typical reaction when Hatch first heard about a case he wouldbegung-ho toinves: tigate, andat somepoint there was a meltdown in whicheither heor the staff decided they didn’t want toinvestigate,” Kolesnik said. “They would do whatever the FBI and Justice Department said.” In February, threeof Hatch’s colleagues two took arare public by stronger committeeoversight. “While it is impossible to say what could have been doneto stop attacks from occurring, it is certainly possible in hindsight to say that the FBI, and therefore the nation, would have bene. fitedfromearlierclose scrutiny by the committee of the problems the agencyfaced, ... Such over sight mighthaveledto corrective actions,” Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Charles Grassley, R-lowa: and ArlenSpecter, R-Pa., wrote. Leahyalsorecently criticized Hatch’s decision not to hold immediate hearings into the II's problems with dling Chineseintelligence as: sets, exposed earlier this by a California criminal case. Hatch said he plans to investigate afterthe criminal matter ends. And the Associated Press reported earlier this month that Hatchwastoldby seniorstaff as early as 1995 that the FBI had missed warningsigns about the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and was ill-prepared to prevent future domestic ter rorist attacks. Though Hatch approved holding hearings in 1995, he never followed through. Choosing a Graduate School NBACGITOIICAE Of course, choosing a graduate program might seem tougher than takinga statistics final, but only until you know the facts. Memorize these—Quality, Flexibility, Reputation. Nowthat you've got the most important answers, come hear (andask) questions. Graduate Business Programs: MBA; MBAin Technology Management; MS in Technology Commercialization; and Certificates in Accounting, Business Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, Information Resource Management, International Business, Marketing, Organizational Development, and Technology Commercialization. Graduate Communication Programs: Master of Professional Communication; and Certificates in Communication Management, Information Technology, Marketing Communication, and Multimedia. Graduate Education Programs: Master of Education Graduate Teaching Endorsements in Distance Learning, English as a Second Language, Reading, and Special Ready to Ride With the Mummy? Early Registration Set for the 18-Mile Antelope by Moonlight Bike Ride FARMINGTON The deadline for early registration for the Antelope by Moonlight Bike Ride is Wednesday. The imile bicycle ride across the causewayto Antelope Island will start June 20 at 10 p.m, andend at 1 a.m, This year’s theme is “The www.co.davis.ut.us/ discoverdavis Preregistration is $16; $13 for those age14 and under. Registration after Wednesday is $22; $17 for those age 14 and under, Age is determined as of dune 20, Cae Education; and the combined Teacher Licensure, Master of Education program. Graduate Programs Preview Thursday, June 12, 2003 Check-in at 5:45 p.m. Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business Auditorium Call the Office of Admissions to let us know you're coming: 832-2200 Mummy Rides Tonight,” and participants are invited to deco- rate their bikes with lights and trimmings. Prizes will be awardedfor the most creative designs, Early-entry forms are avail: able in Room221 at the Davis County Farmington Courthouse or COPY }) online in at *WeDoAll The Paperwork America’s Kids Foundation Gee -759-0112 Helps Fund Scholarships to Children of America’s Fallen Servicomen hesaid. ofthemfellow Republicans leslatertestified at the civil trial that six months after the death he found a mattressin the prison cell with twoblood stains on it — one which be- later this month. handled correctly. In fact, it was not,” The family andothercritics say the canceled hearings are evidence of weak oversight “The refusal of Senator Hatch to conduct hearings into mybrother's murderandthegov ernment'sactions has taken us beyondfrustra: tion to rage, se Trentadue, the victim's swipeat their chairman, suggesting some of the FBI's pre-Sept. 11 lapses might havebeenavoided told him that the blood found on variousitemsin Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said enhancements to Utah’s AmberAlert system will be cluded that Trentadue committed suicide and wasnot murdered,” Hatch said. case was They show Nickles wanted to know whether there wasevidenceofa struggle in the cell before prisoner Kenneth Trentadue died, and agents volved. “The committee did not hold hearings on the Trentadue matter because it appeared very un likely that such hearings would add materially to the multiple criminal investigations of the case, as well as a separate investigation by the Justice Department inspector general, all of which con Those same memos raise questions about | whetherthe FBI told the senatorthefull story. Both men emphasizedthe importance of watching for alerts. Richey urged citizens to “takeit personally” when they hear alerts and become in- Red Butte Garden and Arbore- few miles away at the University of Utah, Lee, a development specialist at the University of Minnesota Foundation, takes his post role in determining whetherthis matter would manygreatthings.” elor’s degree and doctorate in botany den and an administration, edu: significant tion would most likely not be nece: Hearrested the man,later charged in Minneso- Gregory Lee of Minnesotahas been named executive director of break ground for a new rose gar- that hearings were unnecessary, Nickles “intimated that hehada ta, and the girl was returned home. “T really don’t know thatI deserve this,” Richey said. “I did my job on the road that day, but I know there’s so many other policeofficers that have done Monday. He holds a bach- forward to our next chapter with Lee at the helm.” In the works are plans to Nickles ductor who hadties to Provo — would haveto pass through Heber City, where Richey was sta- By HuaryGrourace Smira ‘The Salt Lake Tribune rector whowill now return to her position as director of horticul- reau escaped hearings in the OklahomaCity prison death. Agents convinced one of Hatch’s Senate leaders then-Republican whip Don tioned. He was figuring the timeit would take the man to reach Utah whenhespotted the vehicle. ofRed Butte Garden, Arboretum ture education. “Weare looking atedPress offer a rare windowinto how thebu- “We are fighting back. We are saying that we will notallow these perpetratorsto steal our babies. We will find you. On May 7, Richeyheardanalert about the abduction of an 11-year-old girl in St. Cloud, Minn. Richeysaid he knew that to reach Provo, the ab- Minnesotan Named New Dirdstor the garden’s acting executive di- shows Hatch irmanofthe Senate committee that oversees the FBI and Jus: Runyan Awardsat the Capitol, bestowed fortheir actionsin recovering abducted children. ment to conduct multiple reviews of Trentadue's death. 1849 Sour1y00 Bary SMART THINKING Sau Lane Crry, Uram Bares © wrew.westminstercollegeeda — F |
