Over the past week, Times Free Press reporter Judy Walton has presented readers with one of the most compelling, well-documented pieces of long-form investigative reporting you’ll see from any media outlet anywhere in America this year.
Walton’s series of reports paints a shameful and shocking picture of misconduct taking place by public officials in Tennessee’s 10th Judicial District under the leadership of District Attorney General Steve Bebb. Uncovering, verifying and reporting the shenanigans perpetrated by Bebb and his underlings consumed seven months and required dozens of requests for public records, scores of interviews and hundreds of hours of research.
For her efforts, Walton has justifiably received many pats on the back and should begin clearing off her mantle for the awards of recognition from the journalism community that will likely come. And all of that is great and very well-deserved.
But it won’t mean a thing if Bebb isn’t ousted.
If you’re asking if Bebb actually should lose his job, you haven’t been paying attention.