Ted Stevens

The sad case of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska and why I don’t trust the federal government. Stevens had served 7 terms in the US Senate and had a reputation of being an honest man. Just before the election he was accused by the Justice Department of concealing information about spending on a private cabin. He was charged and convicted 8 days before the election and he lost by 2% of the vote. Later the charges were dismissed because the DOJ lawyers withheld information from the defense that would have exonerated him. A blistering report released Thursday found that the government team concealed documents that would have helped the late Stevens, a longtime Republican senator from Alaska, defend himself against false-statements charges in 2008. "The extent of the corruption is shocking," Sullivan says. "It's the worst misconduct we've seen in a generation by prosecutors at the Department of Justice." Six prosecutors were investigated. Two were suspended from their work (though those suspensions were later overturned). The lead prosecutor was found to have exercised poor judgment, and left the government. Another committed suicide before the investigation was complete. None was prosecuted. The suspensions were overturned because it was deemed that these lawyers were incompetent and did not intend wrong doing. There is that word intent again. I only hope that if I am ever charged with a crime they will judge me on my intent. NOT