Jordan Gaffney’s statements to the Times-Republican (see profile in the Oct. 20 issue) contained several suggestions that, because Sarah Tupper is married to Police Chief Mike Tupper, her election as County Attorney could turn the office into a “rubber stamp” for the police department.
Gaffney knows better. He has been with the office for several years, serving alongside Sarah Tupper. He has not identified a single criminal case where a conviction has been overturned in Marshall County because Sarah Tupper is married to Chief Tupper. Gaffney has not identified a single case where he, in his capacity as County Attorney, or his predecessor (now Judge) Jennifer Miller refused to assign a case to Sarah Tupper simply because she is married to Chief Tupper.
He has not identified a single case anywhere in Iowa where a criminal conviction has been overturned simply because a prosecutor and a law enforcement officer, or police chief, or sheriff or sheriff’s deputy, were married to one another. He has not identified a single opinion of the Iowa Attorney General which suggests that the mere fact of such a relationship is a conflict of interest or creates an ethical taint which prevents a prosecutor from doing the job.
In fact, as Jordan Gaffney knows, Sarah Tupper has requested and received an opinion from the Iowa Attorney General assuring her that the mere fact she is married to Mike Tupper does NOT create a conflict of interest for her work as a prosecutor. Gaffney knows that, but he still pretends it is an issue.
Gaffney used five paragraphs of his newspaper profile coyly hinting that Sarah Tupper would not have the professional integrity to recognize and act upon a conflict of interest if such a case would arise. He says, without any facts or law to back him up, “Beware! The sky is falling! The County Attorney will become a rubber stamp for the police department!” Gaffney spouts this nonsense without any respect for the independence and professionalism of Sarah Tupper and Mike Tupper.
Gaffney has not identified an issue in this race. Instead, he repeats and perpetuates a non-issue, and has used five paragraphs of his newspaper profile to raise doubts about his opponent’s professionalism. The people of Marshall County deserve better from their current appointed county attorney and will receive better by electing Sarah Tupper as County Attorney.
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October 22, 2022 at 12:07PM
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Conflict of interest is a non-issue | News, Sports, Jobs - Marshalltown Times Republican
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