Chriss Street deserves his due process

“This is not a question of guilt or innocence.”

These are the words of Orange County Employees Assn. Head Nick Berardino, referring to the scandalous atmosphere surrounding county Treasurer Chriss Street.

Street is under investigation by county and federal officials for alleged improprieties.

He has been accused of mismanaging a corporate bankruptcy trust and using a false document to circumvent the county’s bidding process for an architectural contract, and he is involved in private lawsuits over the bankruptcy case.

In a news conference Monday, he denied any wrongdoing, refused to resign and told the media he has saved money and improved efficiency and investment returns since taking office this year.

Berardino has proposed a bipartisan effort to recall Street.

On Tuesday, Berardino asked the county Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties, as well as elected officials and political fundraising groups, to form a recall committee.

If the allegations against Street prove correct, he should be bounced from his job and prosecuted to the fullest measure of the law.

But let’s not forget: He’s being investigated. No charges have been filed. A fundamental right in the American system, and which applies to all citizens, is the right of due process.

Wouldn’t it be prudent to complete the investigation before calling for someone’s head?

And we disagree with Berardino. It is a question of guilt or innocence. That question must be answered before justice can be served.

What Berardino seems to be saying, in essence, is Street should be removed because there is, indeed, a perception of impropriety. His other point seems to be Orange County taxpayers can’t afford to wait and see if Street is guilty or innocent.

Well, someone should be watching the books.

But a circus atmosphere does not a guilty man make.

Better, we think, to let due process — and that process hasn’t even entered the legal realm as yet — run its course.

We’d like the question of guilt or innocence answered.

Then we can decide on the best course of action.