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Two More Republicans Benefit From DOJ Misconduct

Two more Republican legislators are benefiting from Attorney General Eric Holder's commitment to fairness. A couple of months ago, Holder asked a federal court to dismiss the charges against Ted Stevens after Holder concluded that prosecutors withheld evidence that should have been disclosed to the defense before or during Stevens' trial. On Thursday, Holder announced that two Alaska state legislators convicted of public corruption were similarly victimized by federal prosecutors who failed to disclose exculpatory evidence.

The Justice Department asked the court of appeals to order Pete Kott and Vic Kohring released from prison pending a district court review of their convictions. Unless the withheld evidence clearly establishes the legislators' innocence, DOJ prosecutors probably won't ask the court to dismiss their indictments, as Holder did in Stevens' case. It's more likely the two men will be given a new (and hopefully fair) trial.

While Holder should be applauded for his vigilance in correcting the injustices that tainted the trials of Republicans in Alaska, the question remains: Why won't Holder take a hard look at DOJ's politically motivated prosecution of Don Siegelman?

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    I thought my paranoia (none / 0) (#1)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 07:39:49 AM EST
    was acting up. I imagined Republican-controlled prosecutors intentionally botching cases against republicans. Why not an investigation into the prosecutorial behavior and motivations?

    As far as Siegelman, there's a need for investigation...found guilty for doing what the last few governors have done, yet other governors not even investigated. Canary is a political creature, and this conviction should be vacated.

    An Easy Answer to Your Question (none / 0) (#2)
    by msaroff on Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 10:17:14 AM EST
    Why won't Holder take a hard look at DOJ's politically motivated prosecution of Don Siegelman?

    That one is simple:  The misconduct in the Alaska cases will not result in prosecutions of political appointees, while any investigation of the Siegelman affair would demand it.

    Barack Obama, and Eric Holder, do not believe in prosecuting political appointees for any reason at all, and Siegelman, by maintaining that the prosecution was politically motivated, has embarrassed them.

    As to why this wold happen, here are the options:

    • Cowardice, Obama/Holder are afraid that they will be prosecuted by the next 'Phant president.
    • Delusion, Obama believes his post partisan crap, and he believes that subverting the rule of law by allowing 'Phants to get away with it will create a more bipartisan atmosphere.
    • Because the professional staff in the DoJ/FBI haven't pushed back on Siegelman, because they have been thoroughly politicized after 8 years of Bush II, and 12 years of Reagan/Bush I.


    Good Question (none / 0) (#3)
    by Lora on Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 10:17:30 AM EST
    Why won't Holder take a hard look at DOJ's politically motivated prosecution of Don Siegelman?

    Some deal, do you think?