Investigating the Stevens Prosecutors

The conviction of former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska and the subsequent overturning of that judgement is a legal quagmire. Now there will be an investigation of the government prosecutors:

“…Judge Emmet G. Sullivan dismissed the charges against Mr. Stevens, which was expected given the way the case has disintegrated since the conviction in October. But the judge went well beyond that step, declaring that what the prosecutors did was the worst “mishandling or misconduct that I’ve seen in my 25 years.”

link: Judge Orders Investigation of Stevens Prosecutors

The assumption is that a trial will be fair. The basis of that assumption is that both the defense and prosecutor work co-operatively and share information to reach a fair and just conclusion. Obviously, this was not the case here.

Regardless of one’s perspective of Senator Stevens personally or of his political philosophy, it is unsettling that this can happen to a member of the United States Senate. What chance does the common citizen have? Even with Senator Stevens’ experience, influence and wealth, it was not enough to forestall this misconduct. Would this have even come to light had it been an average citizen?

Catherine Forsythe