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Stevens Judge Seeking Contempt Charges
It looks like Judge Emmet Sullivan didn't just leave things at a few harsh words for those government prosecutors who botched the Ted Stevens case by failing to hand over evidence.
Politico reports that the judge will seek contempt charges against the six-person prosecution team for their misconduct. That team includes William Welch, the head of the Public Integrity Section, Brenda Morris, the lead prosecutor in the case, and trial lawyer Nicholas Marsh, all of whom were replaced earlier this year, as a result of the missteps.
Sullivan also appointed a lawyer, Henry Schulke, to investigate the Justice Department in relation to the contempt issue. DOJ has said that its Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting its own probe of the misconduct, but clearly Sullivan wants an independent inquiry.
This could get interesting...
Josh
Zachary
Maybe this will help remove a few of Dubya's DoJ appointees from Regent "University" in the process. One can only hope...
April 7, 2009 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm curious about the backgrounds of the prosecution team. When were they appointed? This article makes me doubt that they are Goodling-era Regent U incompetents -
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/us/politics/07stevens.html
Perhaps it was a case of insufficient resources allocated to the job at hand, especially considering how rushed the trial was (at the defendent's request, it should be noted), rather than true incompetence. But in any case the results of the investigation should be interesting.
April 7, 2009 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some goofballs here were claiming categorically it was impossible they threw the case. Well, it looks pretty likely they threw the case now.
And what consequences will there be? My bet is very little. Most likely the they face no consequences and then walk into highly over compensated gigs at Halliburton, some oil company, or whatever.
Or, worst case (and very unlikely) somebody takes a fall and is stripped of their license, and then becomes a consultant at said company, for an even larger compensation package for life.
Let's be clear, Stevens did deals worth many billions over the decades. To take care of a few patsys for several millions is a minor operating cost.
April 7, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
The speculation by kozmik is undoubtedly accurate in suspecting a subterfuge to get Stevens off on a technicality. Why else would he refuse to request a pardon?
April 7, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink