Attorney general drops Stevens prosecution

[cwo_ghwebb]

The Justice Department moved to dismiss former Sen. Ted Stevens' indictment this morning, effectively voiding his Oct. 27 conviction on seven counts of filing false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

The decision by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder comes after a new prosecution team discovered a previously undocumented interview with the star witness in the case that sharply contradicted the most dramatic testimony in the four-week trial. The information had never been turned over to the defense, the Justice Department said in its motion.

"After careful review, I have concluded that certain information should have been provided to the defense for use at trial, Holder said in a statement released this morning. "In light of this conclusion, and in consideration of the totality of the circumstances of this particular case, I have determined that it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the indictment and not proceed with a new trial."

The government is seeking dismissal of the charges "with prejudice," meaning that they cannot be filed again.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered a hearing on the government's motion for April 7.

"I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed," Stevens said in a written statement this morning. "That day has finally come. It is unfortunate that an election was affected by proceedings now recognized as unfair. It was my great honor to serve the state of Alaska in the United States Senate for 40 years."

Attorney general drops Stevens prosecution: Former Sen. Ted Stevens | adn.com

Of course, none of this changes the fact that Stevens had oil-company lobbyists remodeling his house and hid that fact from the Senate. The fact that prosecutors engaged in serious misconduct does not make Stevens clean. It just makes him free.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Ted Stevens off the hook for good

I agree with the second opinion.

[ImnoMensa]

I keep thinking this is a ruse to get Cold Cash Jefferson off the hook.

[Rosehaven]

Like many, I'm sure Stevens is guilty as hell. But if there's no "there" there, then the AG did the right thing.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by Rosehaven

Like many, I'm sure Stevens is guilty as hell. But if there's no "there" there, then the AG did the right thing.

...and wasn't the time just so convenient for the Democrats?