(Via AoSHQ) I suspect that Attorney General Holder isn’t going to be very thrilled about this:
Stevens case closed, case against prosecutors open
WASHINGTON — A federal judge dismissed the corruption conviction of former Sen. Ted Stevens on Tuesday and took the rare and serious step of opening a criminal investigation into prosecutors who mishandled the case.
“In nearly 25 years on the bench, I’ve never seen anything approaching the mishandling and misconduct that I’ve seen in this case,” U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said.
Sullivan appointed a special prosecutor to investigate Justice Department lawyers who repeatedly mishandled witnesses and withheld evidence from defense attorneys during the monthlong trial that ended with Stevens’ conviction in October.
The article goes on note that the special prosecutor has been put into place specifically because the judge does not have confidence in the Justice Department’s ability to conduct an internal review of its past conduct. Whatever your opinion of former Senator Stevens and the original trial, that’s a pretty definite negative statement about the DoJ’s professional ethics.
More as we get it: in the meantime, here’s a previous NRO article (also via AoSHQ) that’s somewhat critical of Sullivan’s preliminary decisions yesterday.
Moe Lane
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
My earlier column at a website named Redstate indicated Holder knew this was coming as his
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 12:55PM EST (link)own investigation revealed misconduct by justice dept lawyers.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Did Rush just read this nearly verbatim? nt
djemi (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 1:25PM EST (link)“If I can’t shoot rabbits,then I can’t shoot fascist”
“With age, comes Wisdom, but only if you are paying Attention, son” my ‘Old Man’
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Beats me: I got it from Ace...
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:03PM EST (link)…and it was a WaPo article to begin with; Rush might have read that over the air.
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I was reading this
djemi (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:10PM EST (link)The article goes on note that the special prosecutor has been put into place specifically because the judge does not have confidence in the Justice Department’s ability to conduct an internal review of its past conduct
when he said it, thats all
“If I can’t shoot rabbits,then I can’t shoot fascist”
“With age, comes Wisdom, but only if you are paying Attention, son” my ‘Old Man’
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I just wish it was possible to nullify the election, since it was based on willful deception...
Cheetah772 (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 1:29PM EST (link)There should be a special election in Alaska because voters did not receive accurate information and were led to believe that Stevens was a corrupt politician who deserved to be in jail for his alleged crimes. Since the original election was a close race, the deception on part of DoJ lawyers plays an important role in determining the outcome of the race.
Sadly, the voters were, in my opinion, fooled into voting for a Democrat. Now, Democrats are laughing all way to bank. If Holder knew about the misconduct, why didn’t he announce the internal findings publicly and offer a sincere public apology on the behalf of DoJ to Stevens? In fact, I think Stevens should sue DoJ for the willful prosecutorial misconduct.
Had the prosecutors acted professionally, I think Stevens would remain a US Senator…on our side.
Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
The GOP in Alaska, including Palin, is calling for Begich to step aside and allow the election to be run again
Raven (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 6:47PM EST (link)The long and short of it is that Begich told them all to piss off and is now going to be the cause of a recall law being put in place (and he’ll be its first victim).
We’ll see how long it’ll take. But not very many of us think Stevens will take the job back.
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
That's just Ruedrich and Palin posturing.
Achance (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 6:54PM EST (link)Hell will freeze over before Begich or any other Democrat will give up anything, no matter how ill-gotten the gain might be. In any event, the Libertarian or whatever he was got far more votes than the difference between Begich and Stevens, so there’s a good argument that the Libertarians and other groups on the right really cost Stevens re-election because absent that candidate, if they voted at all, it wouldn’t have been for Begich.
There is no provision by which a Senator can be recalled and I’m not at all certain a Constitutionally permissible one can be fashioned in State law. The calls for him to step aside just give a way to always harp about his legitimacy and something to hang around his neck in ’14.
There’s a special irony in Gov. Palin calling for Begich to step down when not very long ago she was calling for Stevens to step down.
In Vino Veritas
Yeah. Still not happy with her over that.
Raven (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 7:01PM EST (link)The petition for a recall law is circulating, Achance. It may not be Constitutional, but they’re going to give it a good try…
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
They might pass it, but it will only effect the next senator.
Achance (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 7:07PM EST (link)Begich gets his six years no matter what.
You can almost always pass something trivial, petty, or spiteful in Alaska; it’s the big stuff that the res publica can’t quite grasp – other than “don’t touch my PFD.”
In Vino Veritas
Calling for Stevens to go was right
Hooah_Mac (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 7:13PM EST (link)As conservatives who believe in the rule of law, we need to assume two things, barring clear evidence to the contrary:
1. Innocent until proven guilty (An indictment is not a conviction)
2. Guilty if convicted.
It was the right thing to do to throw Stevens under the bus when he was convicted, because we have to assume a certain level of legitimacy in the system. There was certainly no evidence put forward to suggest a flawed conviction that I saw.
That said, we need to watch carefully for these kind of shenanigans, and if it was so clear that Stevens was not guilty, someone should have been putting that information forward.
-Priorities-
1. Mission 2. Soldiers 3. Everything Else
That's because you weren't paying attention
Raven (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 7:15PM EST (link)Not to the trial, not to anyone on here trying to point out how painfully flawed the case was.
Throwing Stevens under the bus was never the right move. As can be plainly seen now even by those only marginally aware of what was going on.
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
I don't have time
Hooah_Mac (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 7:23PM EST (link)To dig for all the details on these things, but I truly didn’t see any evidence put forward on his innocence. I heard protestations of innocence and claims of prosecutor bias.
If that information was posted here or elsewhere I missed it, and I am sorry if I did.
All I am saying is that if he was convicted, there is a VERY steep hill to climb to cause me to doubt that. I know innocent people get convicted and guilty people walk, but there has to be a level of confidence in the system.
It looks to me like the system has worked – but too late to save his Senate seat (which was our opponents intention all along). Overall, a bad result, but I refuse to defend someone because they are R and attack them because they are D. I need more and I sure didn’t see it.
-Priorities-
1. Mission 2. Soldiers 3. Everything Else
For the record
Hooah_Mac (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 7:25PM EST (link)I don’t believe I had commented on it at all, whether joining the chorus calling for him to go, nor defending him. I also don’t live in Alaska, so voting for him was not an option anyway.
If I had thought he was unfairly accused and convicted, I would have stood up for him. Again, that requires a steep burden of proof for me.
-Priorities-
1. Mission 2. Soldiers 3. Everything Else
I don't believe I said in my comments that you were part of the "Down with Stevens!" chorus
Raven (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 11:23PM EST (link)I just said you weren’t paying any attention…
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
Interesting point
Jack_Savage (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 8:53PM EST (link)And one area where we differ markedly from the Dems. If you will recall, it was technically not Democrats who brought Nixon down, it was Republicans who went to him and urged him to resign – you know, standards and all that stuff. In contrast, when Bill Clinton was caught red-handed (or blue-dressed, as the case may be) Dems circled the wagons and incredibly, weathered the storm.
One of the issues that hurts Republicans, I believe, is that when the going gets tough Republicans head for the tall grass. Hardly makes one want to stick their necks out for the party when they look behind them and all of a sudden no one is there.
If I were Republican leadership I would call things as I see them, and help all I could with what was clearly a politically motivated prosecution. Hell, even after an R were convicted I would publicly say I was waiting for the appeals court to vet the prosecutors.
With Republican friends, you don't need many enemies.
Achance (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 10:55PM EST (link)You cause any controversy, you’re an effin’ memory. Nobody will even ask if you were right. I got the tee shirt!
In Vino Veritas
Doesn't Matter - The Time To Start Casting Begich as an "Illigitimate" Office Holder Is *Now*
IJB Tuesday, April 7th at 7:42PM EST (link)The point isn’t to get Begich to resign – that’s a long-shot at best.
The point is to embarrass, harrass and demonize Begich from now until 2014. The point is to totally delegitimatize Begich’s hold on office, and undermine the people’s confidence in his fitness for office.
Every time Begich gives a speech or comes to a town in Alaska, he should be hounded with “Why Is Begich Afraid of a Fair Election?”, “An Honest Man Would Agree To a Revote!” and “What’s Begich Got To Hide?” signs, courtesy of the AK GOP and affiliated organizations.
Every time a AK GOP official refers to Begich, they should refer to him as being “illegitimate” to hold office until a “free and fair” vote is taken.
They did it to Bush – now it should be our turn to do it to Begich (and Franken if, God forbid, he actually gets in).
This is the politics of personal destruction – it’s time to start playing it.
Except for the pesky fact
hmmcontrib Tuesday, April 7th at 10:11PM EST (link)That he won in a fair and uncontested election, it sounds like a nifty idea.
He already won a free vote, and a fair one too. It’s not his fault the Bush Justice Department was incompetent, is it? No one thinks he or his campaign team or the Democrats or anyone connected to him had anything to do with what happened, so why should he feel as though his win was anything but legit?
“This is the politics of personal destruction.” I think that might just be the response from the Ds if the AK GOP tried this. Perceived sore losers tend not to do well in American spotlights. See also: Gore.
"Fair" may not be applicable if....
Brian Hibbert (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 10:17PM EST (link)false charges were brought against Stevens by prosecutors who were linked with Begich.
The reasons for the misconduct are not exactly known yet. The timing and actions seem to be in line with political motivations.
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IJB Tuesday, April 7th at 10:54PM EST (link)We’ll take your position under advisement.
And then give it all the consideration it’s due…
(P.S. I don’t give you very good odds of continued survival around here…)
Nope. Begich did not win in a "fair" election.
Martin Knight (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:23AM EST (link)A bunch of Democratic activists masquerading as officers of the court violated any number of DOJ regulations (including that prohibiting indictments close to an election), actively hid exculpatory information, altered witness testimony, etc. to handicap his opponent.
On the contrary, I’d be very interested in the prosecutors’ phone records and emails.
PS: Calling the DOJ the “Bush Justice Department” shows that you’ve got mush where your brains should be.
Begich does a pretty good job of demonizing himself
Raven (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 11:29PM EST (link)Palin vs Knowles and Murkowski was a pretty good example of how Alaskans respond to jerkoffs like Begich once they reach the State level…
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
I don't like Sullivan even a bit.
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 1:30PM EST (link)It seems like a “washing of hands” to me.
Yeah there was no excuse not to either drop the charges or declare a mistrial nt
AKSteveB (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:00PM EST (link)Hell is other people – Sartre
I agree. nt
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:05PM EST (link)My opinion of Stevens is not good at all but I must say...
JadedByPolitics (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 1:35PM EST (link)this is one smart judge to put a special prosecutor in place because as much as I dislike Stevens I trust the DOJ less! The attempt was to sway an election by rushing to indict Stevens and in that they were successful….I am hoping that the prosecutor can bring down the DOJ with it’s investigation and that we can get some HONEST people working there instead of the institutional liberalism that lives in its house!
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Beaglescout (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 4:54PM EST (link)He or she better clean house at DOJ, in the US Attorneys’ offices, and everywhere possible, including deep into the CIA. The bureaucracies are infested with Dem air-wasters.
“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”
Hear Hear
Rapunzel46 Wednesday, April 8th at 12:31AM EST (link)More than anything, I’m loving this judge, too bad we don’t have more like him because it might make the democrats think twice about using these dirty tricks to sway an election their way.
As much as I'd love to blame Democrats,
Achance (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 1:57PM EST (link)it was the Bush Administration that kept these people on and even promoted them. As I’ve said a thousand times before; NO REPUBLICAN SHOULD KEEP ANY DEMOCRAT IN A POLITICAL POSITION. It is much better to leave a postion vacant than to have a Democrat holdover in it. A vacant position can’t do anything for you, but it can’t do anything to you either.
And don’t get your hopes up about “cleaning up the DOJ.” The most that will happen is some people will change desks.
In Vino Veritas
I can't resist to comment
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:11PM EST (link)that I completely agree on what you have said. Bush’s bipartisanship was one of his wacko ideas.
But I remember your last words about Alaska politics… off limits to non-Alaskans.
I hope you don’t mind. It’s a Federal matter anyway.
And I still don't care what you think. The mob here
Achance (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:25PM EST (link)pretty much to a man and woman wanted him hung, drawn, quartered, and placed in an unmarked grave when all there was to the “investigation” was prosecution rumor and innuendo.
Readers might recall that I said from the outset that this investigation was deeply flawed. I was right and most here were wrong. Enjoy trying to discus your “federal matters” with the new Alaska Democrat Senator. When something terrible happens because of one vote in the senate, remember people here wanted to endorse Begich.
In Vino Veritas
fair enough, Achance.
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 4:34PM EST (link)I know you’re kinda upset on what happened. Me too, bro. But we can’t bring back the past.
You know my stand on this, bro. I am one of those outsiders wishing peace and unity within the Alaskan Republican Party. How I wish that Palin, Stevens, Murkowski, Young, etal. find a common ground to work for the good of all Alaskan Republicans and for the sake on the national party. I’m also one of those who believe that Alaskans can share so much for the betterment of all Americans.
I honestly wish you all well, bro.
Cheers.
—————————————————————————-
I told you so, Rod. Can’t touch this. He he! (just joking, bro.)
I agree. I was one of them (I think). We were wrong there. [nt]
Martin Knight (Diary) Wednesday, April 8th at 7:26AM EST (link)agreed, and I really like the tangential effects of simply leaving most positions vacant! - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 2:29PM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Sure - The Way To Handle The "Justice" Department?
IJB Tuesday, April 7th at 3:47PM EST (link)Bar the doors during working hours, and burn the building down. (Note: I mean that proverbially… I think!)
And then start over.
(And the same thing should probably down about *two* years *into* a Rep. Administration, as well as at the beginning of one – sometimes it take a couple of passes to kill all the cockroaches!)
All of the special prosecutors or committees, etc
TxCon (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 3:50PM EST (link)don’t mean squat because the horse is out of the barn. The Porkulus bill passed because Begich was in office voting instead of Stevens. The damage has been done.
The problem with the permanent undergovernment of the United States is
Michael M. Keohane (Diary) Tuesday, April 7th at 5:38PM EST (link)that conservatives seldom consider careers in government service outside of the military. And those who do consider such careers are “big government” conservatives and are easily influenced by liberal civil service ethos. When Republicans take over the executive, they find that there are few “small government” conservatives that have either the qualifications or experience necessary to fill many appointed positions. Niixon, Reagan and both Bushes relied on “headhunters” to vet appointees. In many cases, these “headhunters” provided “RINO’s” to fill the vacancies. I knew a well qualified New York Republican who went to Washington for an interview for a position in the first Nixon term. The “headhunter’ conducting the interview told the prospective appointee that he was ” too much of a Nixon man” to serve in the Nixon administration.
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