By Stephanie Gallagher Fraud With Peril Blog The Department of Justice has had several high-profile incidents in the past few weeks calling into question the integrity of its prosecutors – specifically the aftermath of the Ted Stevens trial, during which prosecutors failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, and the Shaygan trial in Miami, during which prosecutors…
By Professor Ellen S. Podgor White Collar Crime Prof Blog A “not guilty” verdict was returned on a drug case in Miami, but what happened during the investigation and prosecution of this case has now resulted in an award of $601,795.88 under the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment allows for attorney fees when a “prevailing…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — As part of a shake up in the Justice Department, career prosecutor Mary Patrice Brown will head up the Office of Professional Responsibilty, an internal unit first established in 1975 following the Watergate scandal to police ethical breaches. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Jr. announced that Brown would serve as…
The pressure is on for the Justice Department to get its act together. That pressure was turned up this week when a federal judge not only dismissed the conviction of ex-Sen. Ted Stevens, but appointed an independent lawyer to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing on the part of the government in the case. By Carrie…
No question the fact Ted Stevens was on trial during his Senate campaign for re-election didn’t help. He was defeated. But now, even though the Justice Department is voiding his conviction, the 85-year-old’s political future is in doubt. Some want a new special election for Senate, saying he was robbed of re-election because of the…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — The case against Sen. Ted Stevens was supposed to be an easy one. Clean. No complications. No need to prove bribery, just that the curmudgeonly Senator, who was known for wheeling and dealing, had lied on financial disclosure forms by failing to report $250,000 in free gifts and renovations to…
If ever there was a federal prosecution begging to be dismissed, this is it. The prosecution time and again screwed up and was admonished by the judge. Then came the big bomb: an FBI agent accused another agent on the case of misconduct. In the end, some questions linger: How could the prosecution have screwed…
One question is: How much resources and how much resolve does the Holder Justice Department have to continue investigating the question marks in the Bush era? This case may test that question. By Justin Elliott TPMMuckraker The Bradley Schlozman saga might have some life left in it, yet. The Justice Department is reviewing a decision…
