Ben Affleck is looking at taking on the story of the death of Arizona journalist Don Bolles and the events it provoked. Sheldon Turner (”The Longest Yard”) has written the screenplay.
According to the trade magazines, the story started in 1976 when Bolles was a reporter for the Arizona Republic taking a look at political corruption and the convergence of New York, Chicago and Detroit mobsters in Phoenix. Bolles was baited to a downtown hotel by a source who didn’t show up; Bolles was blown up in his car. He died days later.
His death was the catalyst the formed a group of elite national journalists that Bolles had been trying to organize at the time. Investigative Reporters and Editors reacted to the murder by convening dozens of investigative reporters in Phoenix from 23 different newspapers and launching an unparalleled crusade to finish Bolles’ work.
The outcome of the investigation was 40 articles exposing corruption in the state. The crusade received criticism for the reporters being vigilantes. Even former presidential candidate and Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater stepped up to the podium to share in upbraid of the reporters investigation.
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