Will Stevens dismissal undercut Alaska's corruption probe?

[babylonsister]

Other cases may be affected

CORRUPTION: Lawyers watch to see how the Justice Department's investigation of prosecutors ends.

By LISA DEMER
[e-mail]


A dozen people charged since December 2006. Eleven convictions. One case awaiting trial.

Minus Stevens, the conviction count drops to 10.

Now questions are swirling about whether the taint over the ex-senator's case threatens other convictions, and whether it derails what's left of the investigation.

The official word from the FBI Wednesday: The investigation into Alaska public corruption remains active.

"We're going to continue working," said Eric Gonzalez, chief counsel for the FBI in Alaska.

Still, as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder noted Wednesday, the actions of the prosecution team that gained the Stevens conviction also are under investigation -- by the U.S. Justice Department.

"The Department's Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct a thorough review of the prosecution of this matter. This does not mean or imply that any determination has been made about the conduct of those attorneys who handled the investigation and trial of this case," Holder said in a written statement.

Once that inquiry is complete, the government will share the findings with U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is presiding over the Stevens case.

more...

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/stevens/story/745183.html

[Winterblues]

1. I suspect there will indeed be a sudden influx of appeals.

There are at least four people serving time that were prosecuted using the same witness and evidence. They may easily walk as well even though we all know they are guilty as hell. They are on tape both video and audio, caught in the very act of demanding bribes for their votes. As is Stevens by the way. He is on tape admitting if caught he could go to jail. Stevens has not cleared his name as the Media in Alaska is making out. He is still an admitted crook but the case was mismanaged...

[L. Coyote]

2. With this business cleared up, indictments can drop on Rep. Young, et.al.

The whole Corrupt Bastards Club gets some free government paper still.