"Sometimes government puts that confidential label on just because they don't want it released," Hunt said. "It's the job of the government to try to keep secrets; it's the job of the press to try and get those things out to the public."

Councilman Joe Hatch, however, said he believes whoever leaked the report did not do it to promote openness in the county but rather as a political vendetta. Hatch said the report accomplished little besides hurting the reputations of certain employees.

Hatch added that he discredits the report itself, saying it is based on "rumor and innuendo."

"I got my report, said ick, and shredded it," Hatch said. "I did not find it at all useful or helpful. It didn't enlighten me in any way."

The use of specific employee names in the report has also opened up the county to civil action, Hatch said.

"All these employees had nothing to do with the investigation and their privacy rights were violated and put into the public arena," he said.

Both Hatch and Corroon are not overly optimistic they will be able to identify who released the report.

Randy Dryer, a Salt Lake media attorney, said efforts to track down leaks are historically unsuccessful and can often do more harm than good for the government group. Often becoming more of a "witch hunt," the investigations dampen morale of employees.

"It's sort of poisoning the environment. Everyone's a suspect. Everyone is kind of on edge," Dryer said. "Everyone is reluctant to communicate abut anything that's at all controversial. Everybody is under this cloud."

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E-mail: estewart@desnews.com