Pittsburgh U.S. Atty. Mary Beth Buchanan wants badly to stay on as U.S. Attorney. Not only is that NOT likely to happen, but she could make a less than graceful exit with this latest development.
- Bush Holdover- Pittsburgh U.S. Atty. Mary Beth Buchanan
RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH – The Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into comments made by Pittsburgh’s U.S. attorney when she announced she was dropping charges against a renowned pathologist, ending a contentious years-long legal battle.
Mary Beth Buchanan said at the time that she still believed pathologist Cyril Wecht had committed a crime. He had been accused of using his public office , Allegheny County medical examiner , to benefit his multimillion dollar private practice.
Dick Thornburgh , a former U.S. attorney general who was part of the pathologist’s defense team , lodged a complaint with the department after the June 2 news conference, saying U.S. attorney Mary Beth Buchanan’s comments were “completely improper, violate all notions of prosecutorial ethics and decency, and warrant remedial action by the Department of Justice.”
In a letter dated July 8, the department informed Thornburgh it had “initiated an inquiry into your allegations.” The department said it would inform him of the outcome of the inquiry.
