The prosecutor’s job

This letter is written in response to “State auditor declares funds misspent,” Feb. 28 (The auditor’s report was published on Feb 21):

Some persons believe that my actions toward the problem of the commissioners’ wrongful use of homelessness funds is a personal attack. That is not true. I wish they had not done what they did. If they had asked me, I would have advised against it.

Part of any prosecutor’s job is to hold persons accountable for violations of the law without regard for who they are or the position they hold. The state auditor determined that these expenditures were unallowable gifts of public funds and are therefore a misuse of taxpayer dollars. This is a serious violation of the law and of the constitution. If I closed my eyes to this and did nothing about what they have done, I would be helping to cover it up.

Tim Rasmussen, Stevens County prosecutor

Nine Mile Falls