After numerous hints about bombshells to come as the Olympics scandal evolves, Gov. Mike Leavitt's office offered Tuesday a taste of details to be released by the ethics review panel investigating the matter.
The governor has been provided general updates by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee Board of Ethics since the committee began its research into what has become an international scandal around the 2002 Winter Games."He knows there are four broad categories where there are going to be further details," said Vicki Varela, the governor's spokeswoman. The categories are: gifts, travel reimbursements, scholarships and cash payments.
"The ethics review board is far enough into the investigation to be able to identify at least an outline of what the report will contain," Varela said. "We're all in a holding pattern for the ethics review board."
Leavitt doesn't know all the details but is anxious to see results of the ethics report. There is some question about when the report will be issued.
There will be more details on accusations of lavish gifts, free medical care, travel and scholarships already widely reported, Varela said.
"There will be more details on the names we have already heard. There may be dollar amounts attached. They will elaborate on the types of problems that have been (publicized)," she said. "There may be new names as well."
Members of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee Board of Trustees are expected to focus on the controversy at their meeting Thursday. Gordon Hall, ethics board chairman, told the Deseret News Monday that the board will not complete its work for the Thursday meeting. He said he did not intend to present any information to the board of trustees until the investigation is complete.
--Lucinda Dillon, Deseret News staff writer