So were the prosecutors just not turning over evidence? Was there more misconduct?

I'm gonna go ahead and say Holder probably did the right thing. He needed to send a message if that was going on, and it's not like Stevens is ever getting back in the Senate, anyway.

hey, OJ got off, too.

Pocket Ninja: So were the prosecutors just not turning over evidence? Was there more misconduct?

I'm gonna go ahead and say Holder probably did the right thing. He needed to send a message if that was going on, and it's not like Stevens is ever getting back in the Senate, anyway.

Plus Stevens probably doesn't have much more time in this world. Imprisoning him, crooked as he is, would just be a useless expense.

Atillathepun: Plus Stevens probably doesn't have much more time in this world. Imprisoning him, crooked as he is, would just be a useless expense.

Jail: Ted Stevens' Bridge to Nowhere

oi.

<Tifoil hat>
Those were Bush-appoited prosecutors doig their sheaigas at Cheey's orders i order to get Steves off the hook.
</Tifoil hat>

Pocket Ninja: So were the prosecutors just not turning over evidence?

Evidence isn't something you can just turn over, it's not a big truck!

How can charges be dropped AFTER a conviction? That doesn't make sense.

Then again, I'm not a lawyer so I'm not familiar with the dark side.

Ever heard of charges being dropped on an average citizen on the streets? After the conviction?

Our bad. I guess we all owe Senator Stevens a big apology.

Ever heard of charges being dropped on an average citizen on the streets? After the conviction?

It happens regularly. A tiny fraction of convictions are overturned based on prosecutorial or police misconduct, but with the huge volume of criminal prosecutions it happens regularly. Around Boston several murder cases were dropped in the past decade. Most of them were old cases from when the Boston FBI office was being run by organized crime. A few were recent. You need an aggressive (expensive) lawyer or good press, luck, and an honest new guy in the prosecutor's office. (I'm including cases where the prosecutor doesn't seriously contest a motion for a new trial, but not cases where the court rules for the defense after a hard-fought battle.)

Con_Authority: How can charges be dropped AFTER a conviction? That doesn't make sense.

Well, you know it can be dropped by an appeal, right? This is like a "we don't even need to send this to appeal" situation.

I'm guessing he'll probably behave, though, because there's probably other shiat that they could have charged him with that they didn't.

notmtwain: Our bad. I guess we all owe Senator Stevens a big apology.

Oh hell no. There's no question that he was guilty of misconduct. The issue here is that the prosecution so botched things that the appeals judge(s?) will undoubtedly toss it, so Holder chose to walk away instead of trying to defend the actions of the prosecutors.

Fark Lawyers^tm: If charges are dropped, can they later be reinstated and the case be properly tried, or is double jeopardy attached since it's already been to trial once?

The Bush Presidency: the gift that keeps on giving. This means he'll probably keep his airport, too.



The farker better not run again in 6 years.

Atillathepun:
Plus Stevens probably doesn't have much more time in this world. Imprisoning him, crooked as he is, would just be a useless expense.

In a very real, very quantifiable way, the actions of a man like Ted Stevens have had an influence in all of our lives throughout his senate career. Than man should farking die in prison, as a reminder to all the buttfarkers just like him still in the senate and the ones yet to be elected that if you fark with the trust of this country, you don't get to retire and enjoy your august years.

HotLonelyTeenageGirl: In a very real, very quantifiable way, the actions of a man like Ted Stevens have had an influence in all of our lives throughout his senate career. Than man should farking die in prison, as a reminder to all the buttfarkers just like him still in the senate and the ones yet to be elected that if you fark with the trust of this country, you don't get to retire and enjoy your august years.

I'd go one further. This is the exact kind of person who deserves no better than to be paraded in irons through Washington and placed in stocks in front of the Senate. Let him be an object lesson to those in power: you will be held to a higher standard, and no matter your circumstances or excuses, you will face your punishment.

/We could build those stocks between the George W. Bush and Richard Cheney Memorial Gallows.

Nice! This is a good one - almost believable. This one's gonna fool a lot of people.

Atillathepun: Plus Stevens probably doesn't have much more time in this world. Imprisoning him, crooked as he is, would just be a useless expense.

I completely disagree with this sentiment. He should be punished for his actions. His age should not even be considered.

Note to all Republicans: Here is an example of what happens when you protect the rights of terrorists. Your guys get their rights protected too. Get it?

(probably not, but there it is anyway)

Did the prosecutors do a fine job? (new window)

Truthiness: Nice! This is a good one - almost believable. This one's gonna fool a lot of people.

Considering the same story is running on msnbc.com, cnn.com and foxnews.com, either you need to rethink your position, or it's the Justice Dept pulling our legs.

/unlikely?

Truthiness: Nice! This is a good one - almost believable. This one's gonna fool a lot of people.



I see what you did there.

Pocket Ninja: So were the prosecutors just not turning over evidence? Was there more misconduct?

I'm gonna go ahead and say Holder probably did the right thing. He needed to send a message if that was going on, and it's not like Stevens is ever getting back in the Senate, anyway.

Never underestimate the stupidity of those who made Sarah Palin governor.

Throughout Independence, Farkistan...

*crickets*

*staring at clock, waiting for Limbaugh*

Lumpmoose:
The farker better not run again in 6 years.

He'll be 91 then. I wouldn't worry about it.

That means the election's a do over, right?

chipspastic: Considering the same story is running on msnbc.com, cnn.com and foxnews.com, either you need to rethink your position, or it's the Justice Dept pulling our legs.

Nope, CNN is reporting it as a joke story. Read the last sentence of the story.

Occam's Chainsaw: HotLonelyTeenageGirl: In a very real, very quantifiable way, the actions of a man like Ted Stevens have had an influence in all of our lives throughout his senate career. Than man should farking die in prison, as a reminder to all the buttfarkers just like him still in the senate and the ones yet to be elected that if you fark with the trust of this country, you don't get to retire and enjoy your august years.

I'd go one further. This is the exact kind of person who deserves no better than to be paraded in irons through Washington and placed in stocks in front of the Senate. Let him be an object lesson to those in power: you will be held to a higher standard, and no matter your circumstances or excuses, you will face your punishment.

/We could build those stocks between the George W. Bush and Richard Cheney Memorial Gallows.


Which just so happen to be right around the corner from the Barack Obama School for Tax Cheats.

ZAZ: Ever heard of charges being dropped on an average citizen on the streets? After the conviction?

It happens regularly. A tiny fraction of convictions are overturned based on prosecutorial or police misconduct, but with the huge volume of criminal prosecutions it happens regularly. Around Boston several murder cases were dropped in the past decade. Most of them were old cases from when the Boston FBI office was being run by organized crime. A few were recent. You need an aggressive (expensive) lawyer or good press, luck, and an honest new guy in the prosecutor's office. (I'm including cases where the prosecutor doesn't seriously contest a motion for a new trial, but not cases where the court rules for the defense after a hard-fought battle.)

Like in the Bill Ayers case

Sgt. Pepper: chipspastic: Considering the same story is running on msnbc.com, cnn.com and foxnews.com, either you need to rethink your position, or it's the Justice Dept pulling our legs.

Nope, CNN is reporting it as a joke story. Read the last sentence of the story.

Fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again.

MethFreek: Which just so happen to be right around the corner from the Barack Obama School for Tax Cheats redressing IRS oversights.

Nobody would even know if they didn't bother turning themselves in.

Anyway, the tax code shouldn't be complicated enough to allow cheating.

Krm Curmudgeon: Throughout Independence, Frkistn...

*crickets*

*string t clock, witing for Limbugh*

Sy wht, mte?

/ Submitter
// My lme hedline reflects both my lmeness nd not hving hd coffee when submitting this.

HotLonelyTeenageGirl: Atillathepun:
Plus Stevens probably doesn't have much more time in this world. Imprisoning him, crooked as he is, would just be a useless expense.

In a very real, very quantifiable way, the actions of a man like Ted Stevens have had an influence in all of our lives throughout his senate career. Than man should farking die in prison, as a reminder to all the buttfarkers just like him still in the senate and the ones yet to be elected that if you fark with the trust of this country, you don't get to retire and enjoy your august years.

I guess I believe that he's crooked, but I'm seriously confused by your desire to see him in prison. What did he do? Also, what are "august years?"

From CNN:

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department asked a federal court Wednesday to "set aside the verdict and dismiss the indictment" in the corruption case against former Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, court documents show.


Former Sen. Ted Stevens, 85, of Alaska lost his re-election bid in November.

Stevens, 85, was convicted in October on seven counts of lying on mandatory financial disclosure forms.

Stevens hid "hundreds of thousands of dollars of freebies" he received from an oil field services company and its CEO, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Matthew Friedrich said.

Many of the alleged free services were given as part of a renovation of Stevens' Alaska home.

Stevens maintained his innocence even after the conviction, and his sentencing has been delayed amid charges by an FBI agent of prosecutorial misconduct.

Stevens lost a re-election bid in November to Democrat Mark Begich, who had been Anchorage's mayor.

Stevens was appointed to the Senate in December 1968."



I don't see the joke.

That's weird. Where did all the A's go in my previous post?

Of course! Stevens was completely innocent and should never have had to disclose his personal relationships he had with the people rebuilding his house.

Keeping Federal Elected Officials from ever having to pay for their misdeeds, that's change we can believe in.

I told you so. At the end of the last Stevens thread a few months back I said the conviction wouldn't stand. A couple of you told me I was wrong/crazy. This was a poorly prosecuted case that left this outcome almost a certainty. If this didn't happen now it was going to happen on appeal.

I don't think he's any less guilty. I don't know if it was intentional. But it was damned obvious that this was how it would end.

CTurnerJoy: I don't think he's any less guilty. I don't know if it was intentional. But it was damned obvious that this was how it would end.

You mean that a lifelong politician would get away with being dirty? Say it ain't so!

And people wonder how others can be so cynical.

Fat Bobcat: Lumpmoose:
The farker better not run again in 6 years.

He'll be 91 then. I wouldn't worry about it.

Byrd is 91 and Thurmond made it to 100 in the Senate. Never underestimate the virility of rich old white men. Since Stevens has been "vindicated", they could wheel him out comatose on a stretcher and Alaska would probably vote for him.

Not a dime's worth of difference.

God's Hubris: Keeping Federal Elected Officials from ever having to pay for their misdeeds, that's change we can believe in.

Holding the DoJ accountable for their prosecutorial misconduct is also change we can believe in. Fruit from a poison tree, etc.

Ex Parte Gilligan 2009-04-01 10:53:48 AM
That's weird. Where did all the A's go in my previous post?

What day is it?

Lumpmoose: Fat Bobcat: Lumpmoose:
The farker better not run again in 6 years.

He'll be 91 then. I wouldn't worry about it.

Byrd is 91 and Thurmond made it to 100 in the Senate. Never underestimate the virility of rich old white men. Since Stevens has been "vindicated", they could wheel him out comatose on a stretcher and Alaska would probably vote for him.

We are, after all, talking about the same country that did elect a dead man to office. Granted it was in a different state, and it was a better choice than his opponent, but still...

God's Hubris: Ex Parte Gilligan 2009-04-01 10:53:48 AM
That's weird. Where did all the A's go in my previous post?

What day is it?

yeah.... The things you think of after you post something stupid.

Ex Parte Gilligan 2009-04-01 10:58:01 AM
Holding the DoJ accountable for their prosecutorial misconduct is also change we can believe in. Fruit from a poison tree, etc.

Great. Call me when they prosecute those responsible for the AG firings.

Ex Parte Gilligan: That's weird. Where did all the A's go in my previous post?

Apparently FARK is doing some self-editing today. Drew wants you to buy the vowel... go on, Vanna is waiting....

Lumpmoose: Fat Lumpmoose: Byrd is 91 and Thurmond made it to 100 in the Senate. Never underestimate the virility of rich old white men. Since Stevens has been "vindicated", they could wheel him out comatose on a stretcher and Alaska would probably vote for him.

You make good points, but one of the reasons the old guys keep getting reelected is that they pull so much power (read: pork money). Replacing them them a new senator costs their respective states a lot of federal dollars. Even if Stevens came back, he is disgraced and doesn't have the influence he once did. But to be honest, I don't know much about Alaska state politics (other than Palin) so they might be crazy enough, who knows.

Witchydiva: I don't see the joke.

I didn't either. For a minute, I thought I was gullible, but then I couldn't find that word in the dictionary.

B-b-b-but liberal bias!!

// better headline: "Senator Tubes: Tied?"

God's Hubris: Ex Parte Gilligan 2009-04-01 10:58:01 AM
Holding the DoJ accountable for their prosecutorial misconduct is also change we can believe in. Fruit from a poison tree, etc.

Great. Call me when they prosecute those responsible for the AG firings.

I'll be too busy dancing in the streets when they do. Plus: There's a difference between an ongoing investigation (your non-sequitur) and damage control on an issue currently before a sitting judge; one who had been lambasting the feebs for their prosecutorial misconduct. I seriously doubt AG Holder sees this as a win. Anyone who does try to score points with this one will be yanking back a band-aid that's holding back a lot of pus.

ExJerseyGirl: Ex Parte Gilligan: That's weird. Where did all the A's go in my previous post?

Apparently FARK is doing some self-editing today. Drew wants you to buy the vowel... go on, Vanna is waiting....

Is she talking Italian?