MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
By Chao Xiong Star Tribune JUNE 13, 2015
They’re calling his actions “bold” and “brilliant” now, but it wasn’t so long ago that Ramsey County Attorney John Choi was roundly criticized for not being tough enough on the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
In fact, when Choi announced in late 2014 and early 2015 that his office wouldn’t file charges in nine cases of alleged clergy sex abuse because the statute of limitations had expired, and for lack of evidence and other complications, his critics pounced. One went so far to say that Choi was no “profile in courage.”
So when Choi’s office laid out its dual-pronged strategy June 5 of filing criminal and civil charges against the archdiocese for its handling of child sex abuse cases, critics and supporters, some of whom heralded the effort as “unprecedented” and “transformational,” were stunned. Yet to those who know him best, it was no real surprise. The way it quietly came together was hallmark Choi — subtle, straightforward and by-the-book.
“I just felt really terrible how John endured some criticism, yet, in the end, he found the perfect way to deal with this factious issue,” said Washington County Attorney Pete Orput. “I think it was brilliant and courageous on his part. I think he went back — looked at it in a more macro view.
“This is the John I know.”
Choi, 45, charged the archdiocese with six gross misdemeanors for allegedly “failing to protect children” against former priest Curtis Wehmeyer, now in prison for abusing two boys.
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