While technically correct, and I am not a huge fan of Brown, I am curious if the Globe Editorial Board thinks that both Wynn and McGuinty were completely in the dark in both instances.

For good measure and fairness, ditto for Harper in the Duffy- Wright case concerning a loan to cover expenses.

Would a better topic not be:  How to make the elected officials accountable for the actions of their subordinates?  For instance, in a similar vein in securities law there is a very clear concept of failure to supervise.