If they'll drop the case on Stevens then they'll sure as hell never open on on Bush

[ThomWV]

So much for justice.

[mucifer]

1. if the prosecution screwed things up they do have to follow the law.

just saying.

[Odin2005]

6. It is sad that some here would like us to act like Bush in order to get what we want.

And WE and the "cheerleaders"? :puke: :eyes:

[liberalhistorian]

14. Exactly. The prosecution fucked up and is at fault.

If there's prosecutorial misconduct, then they have the drop the charges, period. If Stevens had been a democrat and the prosecution pulled this kind of thing on him, people here'd be all up in arms over it and rightfully demanding the dropping of the charges. Party should have nothing to do with it.

[mod mom]

9. they could re-try Stevens-he is guilty.

just saying. What about such a prominent case as Siegelmans? I don't see Holder horrified about that case even though 54 former state AGs were?

[MiniMe]

12. Could be double jeopardy

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. I thought it would only be double jeopardy if he was found innocent by a jury. n/t

[madinmaryland]

2. Two separate issues. Eric Holder dropped it primarily because of

prosecutorial misconduct by the previous administration. They were lucky to even get what they did. Dropping the case is an acknowlegement by the current adminstration of the previous JD's incompetence.

[derby378]

3. Or of the previous administration's DELIBERATE incompetence

This could be Bush and Cheney's way of giving Stevens a Get Out Of Jail Free card, since they couldn't figure out any other way to do it.

[madinmaryland]

18. I cannot disagree with you on that point. Some of the violations seem

to me quite blatant violations of prosecutorial standards, that there may well have been some sort of fix in. Given the disarray of the JD and it being run by grads of Mickey Mouse Law schools (no offense intended to Mickey Mouse), it quite reasonable to think that.

Regardless of the get out of jail card, Steven's antics did finally catch up with him and he was not reelected. I doubt whether he would run against Lisa Murkoski and would not physically be able to run in six years.

[spanone]

4. i would rather the world courts deal with bu$h* & cheney....

the media over here would side with bu$h* and make a mockery of it imho

[RiverStone]

11. Shrub and Shooters trial has to be in Geneva --- or it will never happen, n/t

[customerserviceguy]

5. That was my first thought on hearing the news, also

They could re-try Stevens if they wanted to, but since he's out of office, they figure, why bother? I think the same logic will apply to Bushco.

I've been saying here for the months since the election, all of you out there who are waiting for domestic war crimes trials will be sadly disappointed. Even if some international court holds them, do not expect the Obama Administration to uphold any verdict, subpoena, or summons.

[Mike Daniels]

17. The Hague can't even get the president of Sudan to stand trial

If anyone thinks they'll have better luck when they have to go against the US to try Bush/Cheney then that person needs to lay off the dope.

[johnfunk]

7. Rumblings: Holder et al looking into Bushies INTENTIONALLY throwing the case

... taking the strong evidence and then misbehaving on purpose in ways that would give the Stevens team a shot at throwing out the whole thing.

I'm hearing this from a well-connected colleague.

If true, it's time to prosecute, sentence and disbar a few Bushie prosecutors.

[Bandit]

8. Stevens was tried and found guilty of seven felony counts

He has appealed that verdict. The government will not retry the case but the appeal still has not been won nor even heard. There was ample evidence of guilt, in fact there was a recording of Stevens himself saying if they were caught they could go to jail. We will see if a panel of judges sees things any different than the jury did.

[merh]

13. I don't believe you are correct.

The judge has not entered a final judgment (sentence), no appeal can be filed until the judge enters that final judgment.

The defense simply has to ask the court to set aside the jury verdict because of the prosecutorial misconduct. The jury was not afforded the opportunity to consider all of the evidence, to include exculpatory evidence. If the court enters an order setting aside the jury verdict and the government doesn't want to pursue the case, has dropped the indictment, then the matter is closed. (And yes, there is a matter of double jeopardy, jeopardy attaches once the case has been given to the jury.)

[NightWatcher]

10. DING! how long before people understand this. Nevah Gunna Hapen

[liberalhistorian]

15. Um, excuse me, but justice HAS been

done. The prosecution fucked up and, in cases of prosecutorial misconduct, charges must be dropped. It doesn't matter what your party is, the prosecution cannot conduct itself the way this particular prosecution did and it should never get away with it, period. There must be fairness in the courts for all. This has absolutely nothing to do with Bush or charges against him.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Stevens' trial was loaded with prosecutorial misconduct.

This has nothing to do with his guilt or innocence but with him receiving a fair trial. ANYONE whose trial was this messed should get the conviction overturned.