Hot damn...this would be funny if it wasn't so freaking pathetic. From the LAT writeup:
Attorney General Eric Holder has concluded that the conviction of Stevens cannot be supported because of problems with the government's prosecution, which had been openly criticized by the trial judge, National Public Radio first reported. *snip* U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had criticized prosecutors for misconduct, and held Justice Department lawyers in contempt last month for failing to turn documents over to him as ordered. He called their behavior "outrageous.'' *snip* Holder is said to have based his decision on Stevens' age, the fact that he is no longer in the Senate -- and "perhaps most importantly,'' because the new attorney general wanted to "send a message'' to prosecutors that misconduct will not be tolerated, NPR reported this morning.
Holder started his own career in the Public Integrity section of the Justice Department. The attorney general also knows the trial judge, Sullivan, well – the two served together as superior court judges.
I was afraid this case would be overturned on appeal because of the numerous fuck-ups by the prosecution lawyers..guess we don't have to wait for that to happen now...Teddy will be a free man shortly...damn it. Ah yes, the Gonzo Justice Dept flunkies struck again!
A federal grand jury indicted Stevens, 84, in July on seven counts of making false statements, for allegedly lying on U.S. Senate financial disclosure forms for the years 1999 to 2006.
The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for five hours Monday before returning guilty verdicts on all seven counts.
Each charge carries a maximum five years in prison and $250,000 fine.
But Teddy will probably never do a day in jail...wanna bet? Oh, and check this out...he can still be reelected and serve! From MSNBC:
Despite being a convicted felon, he is not required to drop out of the race or resign from the Senate. If he wins re-election, he can continue to hold his seat because there is no rule barring felons from serving in Congress. The Senate could vote to expel Stevens on a two-thirds vote.
That, my friends, is total horseshit. Also get this, from McClatchy:
Now, voters will decide whether Stevens, who's represented the state in the Senate since 1968 and before that helped usher in statehood for Alaska, should continue to serve as their senator. For the first time in his career, Stevens faces a competitive re-election fight, against Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. *snip* The guilty verdict will complicate not only his re-election bid but also the remainder of his term in the Senate. His colleagues have the option _ never exercised _ of voting to expel him before his term ends in January. Four U.S. senators have been convicted of crimes, historians note, but not one has received a presidential pardon. *snip* The Justice Department has charged 11 people in connection with its corruption probe in Alaska, including five former and current state legislators in Alaska. Other than Stevens, five pleaded guilty, three were convicted by juries in Alaska and two await trial.
I can't wait for Nov 4th. I want to see what Alaskan's decide on this bag o batshit.
Is the fix in? I believe so...or the governments lawyers are retarded. From TPM:
A judge suspended the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens today, while he considers the request of the defense for a mistrial.
The defense's motion stems from the prosecutions' failure to turn over FBI reports of interviews with their star witness, former VECO CEO Bill Allen, until late Wednesday night. Stevens' attorneys claimed the prosecutors were withholding evidence that would help the defense.
Judge Emmet Sullivan lashed out at prosecutors, asking them, "Why shouldn't I dismiss the indictment?" He then ordered a recess.
Prosecutors said it was an honest mistake when they waited until late Wednesday night to turn over FBI reports about interviews with the government's star witness, oil pipeline contractor Bill Allen.
As I was sitting on the second floor, talking to my doctor the room started rocking and rolling.One of Sirens writers, Big Fella lives at the epicenter. He reports no damage that he can tell yet, but he is in a wheelchair and can't get up to the second floor. He did hear breaking glass. So far there have been 27 aftershocks...
Ted Stevens has been indicted on seven counts of lying his republican ass off. He has resigned his two committee seats. From TPM Muckraker, via Roll Call:
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who has been indicted on seven counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms, has stepped down from his post atop two committees, according to a senior GOP aide.
Republicans may vote as early as Wednesday afternoon to select replacements.
Consistent with GOP bylaws that require Members who are under felony indictment to relinquish their ranking posts on committees, Stevens, the longest-serving Republican Senator, has officially stepped down as ranking member of both the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Ted is a tool. Hopefully he will be seen in prison orange very soon..but I ain't holding my breath.
A little Warren Zevon for ya as well! Seems the DOJ has still been trucking along..trying cases of various ilk with regards to corrupt government officials on all levels..state and fed alike. From TPMmuckraker we get these gems..with..gasp..a Democrat included:
Alaska state officials and Veco Prosecutors scored their third conviction of a third former Alaska state lawmaker yesterday, nailing Vic Kohring on three of four counts. He was convicted of taking a couple thousand dollars in bribes from Veco executives and asking for $17,000 more (to pay off credit card debt due to health care bills).
As they left the Federal Building, jurors looked drained but relieved after roughly nine hours of deliberations over two days. Only a few would talk. They said they anguished over their decision. One, who declined to be identified other than as "juror No. 8," said "they didn't get the sharks. They got the minnow." Most felt sorry for Kohring and saw him as "a very sympathetic figure," said Alan Rowe, juror No. 12.
The "sharks" in that metaphor, of course, would have to be the biggest fish in Alaska: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and his son, Ben.
Day three of deliberations for the jury in Brent Wilkes' trial begins today.
Did Wilkes' performance on the stand give them something to think about? Or are they just laboring their way through the two dozen counts in the indictment?
As the feds are bearing down hard on Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), raiding his Alaska home and convening a grand jury in Washington, D.C., another investigation into a sitting senator has been proceeding quietly up in New Jersey.
Over the past several months, the U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey has issued two grand jury subpoenas to former clients of Kay LiCausi, a lobbyist and former aide to Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). The investigation, of course, is no secret, but after a controversy raged over subpoenas issued shortly before the 2006 election, the investigation has shifted direction entirely. Now the focus seems to be whether Menendez steered lobbying contracts to his former girlfriend and then delivered government funds to those client once they'd hired her.
It's never been confirmed that LiCausi and Menendez, who's divorced, were in a romantic relationship. But the rumors were such that The New York Times didn't hesitate to report in 2005 on "the widespread belief" in New Jersey and among Menendez's former staffers that they were. And Menendez himself has never denied it, always answering queries with "that's strictly personal." Reports of the relationship have always been phrased in the past tense since 2005.
LiCausi started work for Menendez back when he was in the House in 1998. She was 26. Four years later she left with the title of chief of staff of his New Jersey office, a position that the Times called "midlevel" -- she supervised six people. But immediately she began raking in some hefty contracts, not only as a lobbyist, but also as a fundraiser for Menendez and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Menendez admitted to the Times that he'd "encouraged" the DCCC to hire her for the $10,000 a month spot. And no doubt he was responsible for the work on his political committees, where she was also making another $10,000 a month fundraising for both his political action committee and his campaign. And then there were the lobbying contracts which also rolled in.
I have purchased a domain name. I have been meticulously working on a new site,Leftwing Nutjob. Please change your bookmarks people..this puppy will no longer be updated as of July 1st 2011.
A little Warren Zevon for ya as well!