Light shed on Ted Stevens debacle, two months later
From Sunshine Review
Contents |
June 18, 2009 Newly discovered evidence for former senator Ted Stevens abandoned criminal conviction threatens to weaken other cases, two months after the case was deserted. The unit of the Justice Department that addresses public corruption is in chaos as department leaders try to "reshuffle the ranks."[1]
[edit] Employees in department transferring around
Two senior managers who supervised Stevens' case, William Welch and Brenda Morris of the department's Public Integrity section, have been moved into other roles. Two of their subordinates had been moved in the last week as well.
The case against Stevens accused the Alaskan of bribery and influential peddling, but new evidence in the form of document-sharing lapses on the department's part have provoked defense complaints. Government lawyers and the FBI are reviewing the case.
Because the new evidence leaves pockets of doubt in the case that the government must review the case, two former Alaska lawmakers were released from prison last week and given lighter parole rules.
[edit] Justice department
The Justice Department has been struggling with its image problem, promising to restore morale following allegations of political interference during the Bush administration, the Washington Post reports.[1]
Stevens is considering reflecting on his six terms in office in a book. He lost the reelection race in November days after his conviction.
[edit] External links
- WSJ Blog: "Report: DOJ’s Public Integrity Unit 'In Chaos'"
- Official Senate website
- Department of Justice official website
