In any case, this editorial makes a mockery of the concept of “innocent until proven guilty.” They say elected officials should be held to a higher standard. What higher standard? Surrender upon accusation?

Speaking of standards, where is your concern over federal authorities investigating state officials? It seems their main justification is the interstate commerce clause, which they invoke by setting up a fake office in Miami and somewhere else. That’s pretty tenuous. Where’s your principled concern over state’s rights?

Why wasn’t this a TBI investigation? Is TBI unwilling to investigate state officials? With Ford reporting a six-figure “consulting” income, why couldn’t investigators piece together a case from bank records and filings and a little surveillance? Do legislators really cover their tracks so well they can only be indicted when law enforcement makes itself complicit in the corruption?

There’s plenty to be concerned about here, not necessarily with regard to the legislator’s guilt or innocence, but with regard to important principles of power and jurisdiction.