Good to let Stevens go?

[Stingo]

Was the “fix” in from the very beginning by the Bush administration DOJ, and were the prosecution errors committed on purpose so there was no way that the conviction would ever be upheld? Or was it just garden variety legal incompetence that became a hallmark of Alberto Gonzales’ tenure as US Attorney General?

http://allspinzone.com/wp/2009/04/01/doj-drops-case-against-ted-stevens/

[PDJane]

1. No.

It's law. I don't think he should get away free and clear either, but the business of ignoring law is NOT good. That's the law of untended consequence.

[Stingo]

2. How tough will it be

to fix a completely bungled prosecution, when we should be aiming at bigger fish. This is about good law recognizing bad and ditching the bad.

[D-Lee]

16. Remember double jeopardy?

And, from the sounds of the reports on the trial, the defense objections sounded like more than the usual patter ... it did sound as if something stinky had gone on during pre-trial preparation.

It is a good thing to raise the bar on criminal prosecutions.

Now, let's hope that the ex-Ark Gov gets similar treatment!

[Blue_In_AK]

3. As I posted elsewhere,

rumor here is that Stevens and Bush's justice department weren't on such good terms, and that perhaps this prosecution team was overzealous rather than complicit. Not saying that Ted's innocent or anything, but these guys made some really stupid mistakes.

[Stingo]

4. incompetent

the Bush Hallmark

[Blue_In_AK]

8. It's interesting that the US attorneys for Alaska (one of whom I've known

since he was a kid playing with my younger brothers 30 years ago) have a 100% conviction rate on the corruption cases that have arisen out the VECO investigations in our state legislature -- with far smaller amounts of money involved. I think we're up to 10 or 12 convictions or guilty pleas now. It doesn't speak well for the DC prosecutors that Ted's conviction has been overturned. http://community.adn.com/adn/node/112569

[Mojorabbit]

14. If it is true as Keith said tonight

that the DOJ attorneys had a handwritten note from Stevens asking for a full bill for the work and did not give that to the defense it seems to me it was deliberate malfeasance.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. I doubt there was any kind of "fix"

Stevens took everyone by surprise when he demanded - as was his right - a speedy trial. I think the prosecutors were caught unprepared and took bad shortcuts, resulting in a bad prosecution and just a bad case.

It's right that these charges - which are probably legitimate - be dropped. He's an old man, and, now that he's out of the Senate, I think justice has been served.

It's one of those situations where I find it impossible to feel sorry for either side.....................

[Warpy]

6. Right, he's out and his reputation has been tarnished

by his earlier conviction. He's not coming back.

He's going to spend the rest of the life surrounded by everything he used his office to chisel out of other people, thinking about how high the cost ended up being.

Some things are worse than prison.

[ellenfl]

7. i vote for the fix . . . incompetently executed. eom

[Stingo]

9. You want it both ways,

as is your right, I suppose.

[ellenfl]

12. well, if they'd executed competently, stevens might still be in congress. eom

[Stingo]

13. Point well taken.

They are incompetent even when corrupt. What a miserable and accurate indictment.

[The Second Stone]

10. No. The DOJ should have offered to stipulate

That he could have a new trial before taking this measure. They would never have done this for a drug dealer. Corruption in an elected official is worse than drug dealing.

[bemildred]

11. More corrupt politicians is never good.

But sometimes you can make deals, it might be worth it if he sells out.

[MadMaddie]

15. So what is being proposed is that the Repug DOJ had the

forethought to fuck up the case so it would have to be dismissed in the future.

Nopity!! No....Nada....chance!

[Stingo]

18. You don't think

Republicans have the brains for such a plot?

[MadMaddie]

20. Seriously I am doubtful that they have the brains to pull something

like this off. When you pile incompetence and plain ignorance together it really doesn't leave much room for plotting. Now do I think that they illegally and intentionally withheld evidence on purpose absolutely but that's as far as I can believe they went.

Then again, never say never.

I suspect as Eric Holder goes through more cases we will see more of this sloppy and illegal behavior.

[burning rain]

17. Bottom line, I think....

Stevens is disgraced (no matter what teevee pundits who bend over backwards, forwards, and sideways to show public figures the benefit of the doubt, even when there is no doubt). He's out of office, and in his eighties. Jail's not the place for him. Now, Cheney, the prime war criminal -- that's a different story.

[HillWilliam]

19. It occurred to me that the very best way for Holder

to give the boot to Bush's Babble Cawlidge gradjeates and put real lawyers in their place might be to start right here with the Stevens case. Bewsh's DOJ was filled with Liberty Babble Unyversidy gradjeates whose sole purpose in life was to subvert the Constitution and bend the US system of laws toward their little theocratic utopia. Legal incompetence was only the first thing to be expected from the likes of Goodling and her hirelings.

Though I'm less than pleased with the turn-up in the Stevens case, a little housecleaning at DOJ is certainly in order. Stevens' career is over and his reputation is forever tarnished from his own misdeeds being brought to light -- he is punished and will never recover. Here is the perfect opportunity to go after some Bewsh idiots who otherwise might not be touchable for a long, long time due to the hiring and firing rules at DOJ.

Unburrow the burrowers now before they do any more damage. I'd rather endure a small pain of Stevens getting off lighter than he deserved than the great pains of further corruption and desecration at the hands of the Liberty treasonists.

[GuyJello]

21. There was no other choice

The previous prosecutors screwed up so badly that nothing else could have been done.