He has pictured himself as the beleaguered county attorney facing a mob of people demanding answers about AzScam.
Margaret Updike, Robert Updike's wife, who was present at the meeting when Romley spoke, remembers one thing clearly.
There were nearly one hundred people present and it was Romley who first brought up AzScam," Updike says. I remember clearly that he opened by saying, `I suppose you're all interested in AzScam.'" Now we have the picture of Rick Romley, our very own Arsenio Hall, pumping up his constituency with tales of his AzScam triumphs. You get the picture. How many politicians has he sent to jail, and for how long? The crusading county attorney is by now on his feet, waiting for the applause to wash over him.
To Romley, AzScam has been his ticket to the next rung up the political ladder. Will he run for Congress? Will he run for attorney general? How long must he remain in the county attorney job before he can move on to one with more prestige and a higher salary?
Murray Miller is incensed.
Mr. Romley, you say there were 35 people present at this meeting. Isn't it a fact that there were at least 95 people who signed in for that meeting?"
Romley remains calm.
Mr. Miller, you have to remember that people were coming and going all the time." Jim Keppel, the chief deputy trying the case for the prosecution, jumps up to defend Romley from a further onslaught.
Your honor, this should not be a chance to bash the county attorney. The jurors indicated this morning they haven't seen anything about the statements. The court has instructed Mr. Romley how it wants him to proceed." Keppel's argument succeeds. If it had been left to Romley, he would have kept the argument festering.
Larry Debus stands up.
Your honor," Debus says, I think Mr. Romley should be ordered simply that this is a case in trial and he should not be able to speak or discuss it at all." Ryan looks over at Romley.
That is the appropriate course, Mr. Romley." I understand the rule very well, your honor," Romley says. I will abide by the ruling. I am sure it will be fair to all parties." Romley is still trying to worm his way out of this situation and appear to be a winner.
Ryan says one more thing to Romley. He says it gravely, in the tone judges usually reserve for drunks or burglars.
I don't want to see you in here again ...otherwise bring your toothbrush." The meaning is clear. Romley is on notice.
If the politically ambitious county attorney opens his mouth about this case one more time during the course of the trial, he will be clapped in jail for contempt of court.
Some day, long after the AzScam cases are a memory, students of the law will be amazed at the unfair tactics the prosecution got away with in this case.
The press served as its all-too-willing partner. Everyone was so eager to come down hard on crooked politicians that no one raised a voice to protect anyone's right to a fair trial.
Viewed through the prism of time, this will clearly be seen as a plan by Romley and then-police chief Ruben Ortega to revive their flagging careers.
Why else did they grant reporters total access to three long shelves of videotapes as well as the 39 notebooks full of transcripts?
The dissemination of damaging information was incredibly blatant. Video for nightly broadcasts was actually supplied directly to the television stations by a direct uplink" from Phoenix police headquarters.
There was no way for anyone in AzScam to get a fair trial. It was a modern witch-hunt. We all went along with it.
There are special places in hell for those who see the truth but will not act.
THERE GOES THE "JUDGE" DID AZSCAM RUIN ... v4-29-92
