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Judge To Stevens Prosecutors: "Isn't The Department of Justice Taking Court Orders Seriously These Days?"
This just gets worse and worse...
Last week, as we told you, defense lawyers for Ted Stevens formally asked the judge in his case to hold the prosecution in contempt, after a string of incidents in which the government was found to have withheld information from the defense.
And now Judge Emmet Sullivan has done so, reports the Associated Press.
Last month, Sullivan ordered prosecutors to turn over FBI documents concerning a whistleblower complaint against the agent leading the investigation into the former Alaska senator.
But they didn't, provoking the wrath of Judge Sullivan:
"That was a court order," he bellowed. "That wasn't a request. I didn't ask for them out of the kindness of your hearts. ... Isn't the Department of Justice taking court orders seriously these days?"He said he didn't want to get "sidetracked" by deciding a sanction immediately and would deal with their punishment later. But he ordered them to produce the material by the end of the day.
"That's outrageous for the Department of Justice -- the largest law firm on the planet," he said. "That is not acceptable in this court."
This is just the latest embarrassment for the Justice Department in the case. In late January, the head of the department's Public Integrity Section admitted in writing to Judge Sullivan that he erred when he said that a group of government employees, who were cited in the FBI agent's publicly-filed complaint wanted their story to be made public. Some didn't, it turned out.
Stevens, the former Alaska GOP senator, was convicted last fall of filing false disclosure reports to hide gifts from an oil-services contractor. He is appealing the conviction.
| TOPICS: Alaska, Bill Allen, FBI, Justice Department, Ted Stevens, Veco
Josh
Zachary
Anybody want to bet a US Attorney gets fired over this? Get the Bushies out of the DOJ sooner rather later!
February 13, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is hard to believe that the whole lot are not being investigated for a criminal conspiracy to mis-use their offices. The mistakes and deliberate violations in the Stevens case make one wonder if this wasn't intended to yield exactly the result we see before us.
February 13, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just another logical result of hiring only people who qualify thru a political litmus test. Or maybe it just proves that Republicans are stoopid. Time for a new broom.
February 13, 2009 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Stupidity"?
"Incompetence"?
Or just making sure that a right-wing asshat doesn't face real justice?
I have a feeling that the prosecutors were trying to leave probable cause for reversal.
And being loyal Bushies, they failed to realize that they had gone way...way...way too far.
Funny to think that THEY may find the outcome of this trial to be more damaging to them then good old Senator Hulk.
Hail Nooooooo
February 13, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, the head of Public Integrity should be replaced.
In fact, the Obama administration probably will replace him.
Because he's trying to get a US Attorney spot in Massachusetts. He's a Democrat.
And I'm guessing that almost everyone working for him is too.
You all are fucking idiots. And the next US attorney from whatever district in MA is likely one too, because he willingly associates with folks like you.
February 13, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL, very cute.
I'd like to remind you that it wasn't Democrats who:
1) Broke the economy (of the world),
2) Broke the military,
3) Destroyed US credibility,
4) Alienated nearly every large nation on the globe,
5) Violated the Constitution, then publicly claimed credit,
6) Presided over the destruction of New Orleans, then left it that way,
7) Lost billions and ignored it.
The Republicans have been good at only one thing. Stealing for the benefit of their robotic friends.
February 14, 2009 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
William Welch II, the current head of the Public Integrity Section of the US Justice Department was appointed by Alberto Gonzales in March 2007. I would assume that would make him a Republican, although I have searched and can't confirm that is true.
February 14, 2009 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/former_federal_prosecutor_in_s.html
A former Springfield prosecutor who rocketed to a high-ranking spot in the U.S. Justice Department is vying for the top law enforcement job in Massachusetts.
Sources have confirmed that William M. Welch II, formerly a federal prosecutor in Springfield, will apply to succeed longtime U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan.
A Northampton native, Welch took a job in the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section in Washington in 2006. He later ascended to the top post in that office, formed to root out corruption in government agencies and Congress.
While Welch would not comment on the U.S. Attorney's job, some local lawyers confirmed he had been in touch to discuss his interest and rally support here and in Boston.
"I've talked with him and I've encouraged him to go for the job because he's an extremely bright, able trial lawyer and he has a wealth of experience in the federal system," said Springfield lawyer John J. Egan.
Local lawyers agreed the Princeton graduate has the right qualifications, but wondered if any candidate from Western Massachusetts could overcome the overwhelming presence of Bostonians on the search committee.
Of 12 members on the Advisory Committee appointed by U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass, just one is from Western Massachusetts: Northampton lawyer John P. Pucci.
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said he recommended Pucci for the panel to ensure the region had a voice on the committee.
"With a decision of this far-reaching magnitude, it's important to have someone from Western Massachusetts," said Neal, a Democrat from Springfield.
U.S. Attorney positions often turn over when a new party takes control of the presidency. Sullivan, a Republican, was appointed by President George W. Bush when Bush began his first administration in 2001.
Welch, a registered Democrat, served in the Springfield U.S. Attorney's office from 1995 to 2006, where he built a reputation as a brainy, unrelenting prosecutor.
February 14, 2009 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
In keeping with the Bush theory of hiring, the more incompetent the better. IMHO, I think that every Bush appointee is so incompetent and frankly, lacking intelligence and integrity, because the President needs to be the smartest one in the room - get the small yellow school bus, instead of the armor-plated limos, Bush is having a meeting.
If you paid attention, all the people with any kind of integrity bailed at the end of the first term.
February 14, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is just SOP for the DOJ. Framing a guilty man. Look at what the way they fucked up the McVeigh prosecution. Those prosecutors should have wound up behind bars.
February 14, 2009 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jay apparently hasn't been paying attention. The head of the department is a Democrat and a career civil servant.
February 14, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who is this judge kidding. In today's world wrong doing by federal government officials always goes unpunished.
February 14, 2009 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, he is a DINO who was appointed by Gonzales -- what's your point? You certainly can't generalize about all Democrats based on his behavior.
February 15, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink