Montgomery: Rules regarding gifts for elected officials are too vague

Last December’s investigation into the Fiesta Bowl’s gifts to elected officials led Maricopa Attorney Bill Montgomery to determine laws were too vague to prosecute any of the involved parties. Montgomery says due to a lack of education among elected officials about accepting gifts and confusion on how gifts are defined kept him from prosecuting anyone. He thinks in this case there wasn’t enough evidence to get a jury to convict anyone without a reasonable doubt. Montgomery says there needs to be reform to define gifts and what is not acceptable. Until then it is up to lawmakers to decide what they will accept and whether or not they can explain to their constituents why they accepted gifts or favors.