During my years as U.S. Attorney, I saw many cases of public corruption.
Cases involving public corruption bring about cynicism and discredit government.
Rooting out corruption can be painful but necessary. This is not the first time that there has been a cloud of corruption over Providence City Hall. Yesterday that cloud reached the highest level of city government. These are very serious charges against the mayor and his top aides that go to the root of the operation of government. The mayor and his aides possess a presumption of innocence.