The assistant attorney general in charge of protecting the Utah Division of Consumer Protection from overly curious consumers says he believes in the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” Which, of course, he should.
But it might come as a surprise to the many other state and local prosecutors across Utah that Assistant A.G. Chè Arguello defines that principle as justifying a state law that keeps confidential all the consumer complaints the division receives, until and unless that agency actually takes some enforcement action against a company.
Were that the usual standard, there would be no public reporting of the names of, or evidence against, anyone accused of murder or theft until after they had been found guilty in court. Wouldn’t want to unfairly besmirch the name of anyone who hadn’t actually been convicted, now would we?
The State Records Committee last week upheld Arguello’s argument and allowed the Consumer Protection Division to continue to sit on any and all complaints lodged against a Provo-based multi-level marketing outfit called Wake Up Now. Because, apparently, state law on the matter is clear.
Which is why the Utah Legislature should change that law, and make such Consumer Protection Division records open to the public.
The matter was raised by a national nonprofit consumer watchdog called Truth in