Ted Stevens off the hook for good
posted at 9:32 am on April 1, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Attorney General Eric Holder has decided to drop all charges against former Senator Ted Stevens, after a series of allegations of prosecutorial misconduct put the conviction in jeopardy. The decision means that Stevens will not face prosecution again and will collect his Senate retirement benefits. Holder cited his age as part of his determination, but Holder obviously didn’t want to defend the conduct of DoJ prosecutors in the case:
The U.S. Justice Department has decided to drop all charges against former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens amid accusations of prosecutorial misconduct, NPR reported on Wednesday, citing Justice officials.
Stevens, a Republican who served longer than any other U.S. senator before losing a November re-election race, was convicted in October of seven counts of lying on a Senate disclosure form to conceal $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil industry executive and other friends. Allegations of prosecutorial misconduct have delayed his sentencing.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder reviewed the case himself and decided not to continue to defend the conviction in the face of questions about prosecutors” actions, NPR reported on its website.
Holder also was influenced by the age of Stevens, 85, and the fact that he is no longer in the Senate, NPR reported.
The government will move to dismiss the conviction today, presumably with prejudice, meaning that Stevens will be able to claim double jeopardy if the charges got refiled later.
I wrote earlier about the allegations of misconduct. The most recent involved allegations of a sexual affair between an FBI agent and a witness that didn’t get disclosed to the defense. The most serious charged prosecutors with deliberately withholding exculpatory evidence, including lying to the judge. Those allegations came from an FBI whistleblower, not the defense, which made the charges much more credible — and very, very damaging to the conviction prosecutors won.
Holder did nothing more than bow to the inevitable. After that came to light, no appeals court would have upheld his conviction. If that misconduct gets established, prosecutors involved will probably get disbarred.
Of course, none of this changes the fact that Stevens had oil-company lobbyists remodeling his house and hid that fact from the Senate. The fact that prosecutors engaged in serious misconduct does not make Stevens clean. It just makes him free.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Going to be an awesome day. Three ‘Cuda pictures side by side.
carbon_footprint on April 1, 2009 at 9:34 AM
What a complete mess the prosecution made of this. I wonder if there was, in fact, no wrong-doing at all!
AnninCA on April 1, 2009 at 9:34 AM
“The election is over anyway, so we’ll let him go.”
jgapinoy on April 1, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Eric Holder is a douche. I know that’s obvious, but it still feels good to say it.
bluelightbrigade on April 1, 2009 at 9:37 AM
He’s cleaner than hald of the Obama cabinet and certanly cleaner than one my states Senators, Chris Dodd.
Daemonocracy on April 1, 2009 at 9:37 AM
The most honest summary, look for Rezko to get quietly pardoned soon…
sven10077 on April 1, 2009 at 9:38 AM
No, but the prosecutorial taint really calls into question whether Sen. Stevens actually broke the law. Remember: this wasn’t an ethics investigation designed to embarrass him and drive him from office. This was a criminal prosecution designed to imprison him (and, probably, forfeit all of his assets to the Government).
And don’t you think it’s a very serious matter that government prosecutors, even in the Bush administration, would engage in such flagrant misconduct to conduct a political prosecution? And now that Obama is in power, don’t you think this activity is simply going to increase?
Outlander on April 1, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Why is Sarah’s picture used in piece about Stevens being let off the hook? Glad you did cause I’d much rather look at her than Stevens.
Herb on April 1, 2009 at 9:38 AM
is Ed going to use Palins face for every thread as an April Fools joke on AllahPalinDistorter?
jp on April 1, 2009 at 9:38 AM
No one in Washington ever seems to face consequences for their actions. It is sickening.
kcluva on April 1, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Stevens had been in the senate too long. He was a king of pork, along with Robert Byrd. He should not have run this last time. We need to hold all politicians accountable, not just “the other party’s”.
rbj on April 1, 2009 at 9:39 AM
It seems inescapable that he knowingly filed false paperwork.
DrSteve on April 1, 2009 at 9:40 AM
To bad they won’t dismiss the conviction without prejudice, so that he could be prosecuted again the right way.
His age should have no bearing on anything (after all that would be age discrimination) and effectively he got away with his crime(s) due to rediculous behavior on the DoJ’s part. There should be mass firings (did anyone lose their jobs over this yet?) and the process should start again from square one with a competent investigation. If he is in fact innocent, then new investigators can decide not to persue the case.
DrAllecon on April 1, 2009 at 9:41 AM
All Palin… All the time…
gatorboy on April 1, 2009 at 9:42 AM
This piece of crap (Stevens) is the living embodiment of all that is wrong in politics. He should have been thrown in jail, and the key thrown in the ocean. Then go after the other 530 members of Congress that are crooked too.
Our political landscape is a mess. One giant old boys network that doesn’t allow for honest people to prevail. THAT is the problem with a government that doesn’t observe the limits of it’s power; the legislators go to the highest bidder.
RWLA on April 1, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Did the same with Delay … Anyone see a pattern?
tarpon on April 1, 2009 at 9:43 AM
is it Sarah Palin picture day???
im down with that…
alexraye on April 1, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Now we will probably never know the sordid details, but I’m not liking the idea that “age” is a good enough reason to let someone off the hook; crime is crime no matter the age of the perp.
But earlier posters probably had this right (if I read their comments correctly), this could be used as a precedent for allowing the thugs associated with Ogabe to escape official scrutiny.
Bishop on April 1, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Is Sarahcuda’s picture on these threads some sort of April fools joke? I agree that it brightens the HA format, but it could make it seem like Sarah is responsible or involved in things she isn’t. Besides there are already some posts here that don’t have her picture and dated April 1, so what’s the point?
Christian Conservative on April 1, 2009 at 9:44 AM
“Guilty as sin, free as a bird, it’s a great country.”
Doughboy on April 1, 2009 at 9:45 AM
It’s The ‘Cuda’s day. Awesome.
Dritanian on April 1, 2009 at 9:47 AM
It’s an all ‘Cuda, all the time, non-stop rock block. I love it!
Nat Hound on April 1, 2009 at 9:48 AM
I request the picture of Palin showing her legs off on a motorcycle for next thread
jp on April 1, 2009 at 9:48 AM
You got it. The good old Bill Ayers exemption.
Wade on April 1, 2009 at 9:49 AM
read thru last nights Palin thread by AP
jp on April 1, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Speaking of pictures, what happened to the HotAir guy on the top banner?
An April 1st gag? I sure hope so — he’s as much a cornerstone of the site as is AP.
Harpazo on April 1, 2009 at 9:49 AM
The Justice Dept. still has plenty of Clinton-era moles in it. This may not be Bush’s fault at all.
Del Dolemonte on April 1, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Hear about this in the MSM in 4,3,2,1, . . . never.
Angry Dumbo on April 1, 2009 at 9:51 AM
The Palin cult of personality is just as bad as the Obama’s. She is a good looking woman and that’s the only reason she has a following. I remember conservative laughing at The View ladies for commenting about Obama’s looks. This is no different.
Chekote on April 1, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Maybe not for AP when he wakes up..
DaveC on April 1, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Stevens was a piker. Dodd, Murtha, Pelosi, Fienstein
They’re the real deal.
Tony Soprano on April 1, 2009 at 9:53 AM
yes, the Palin ‘cult’ is comparing the woman to Jesus literally among other worshiping like things. “Just like Obama” alright, only in that she is charismatic lightening rod, other than that its no comparison
jp on April 1, 2009 at 9:54 AM
So allen was manipulated? Looks like it. Obama also had a helping hand in his house deal.
seven on April 1, 2009 at 9:55 AM
AP just can’t pass up any opportunity to imply she’s guilty of something. He also has to feed the PDS of some of HA’s trolls.
katiejane on April 1, 2009 at 9:56 AM
apologies to AP – I didn’t realize that Ed had taken over the troll feeding.
katiejane on April 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM
OT: AP and Ed: Is funding that bad that you guys need to advertise Brian Moran’s run for governor?
Lance Murdock on April 1, 2009 at 9:58 AM
YES!!!
…must …have …more …Sarah!
Right_of_Attila on April 1, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Or it could be that she’s a self-made woman who rose from nothing to become Governor of Alaska, who took on corrupt members of her own party, who stared down the oil companies, and who walks the walk when it comes to her personal beliefs.
Nah, we just like her because she’s like a mail order bride.
Doughboy on April 1, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Prosecutor misconduct forced his hand.
getalife on April 1, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I have to ask: Why are you putting Palin’s photo with stories that aren’t about her? Why not put a pic of Stevens on this one?
Are you just trying to get the anti-Palin trolls inspired to spew?
ErinF on April 1, 2009 at 10:00 AM
If this is Palin day, include shots of her holding a rifle, the turkey-slaughter interview, and a shot of what Chris Matthews calls the windshield wiper wave. Let’s annoy all the Palin haters.
EMD on April 1, 2009 at 10:00 AM
SARAH PALIN FOR QUEEN OF THE WORLD!!!
alexraye on April 1, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Hey, I’ve got an idea, how about just putting up a picture of Sarah Palin on every story no matter how unrelated she may be to the story.
What’s with the Palin complex at Hotair?
t.ferg on April 1, 2009 at 10:02 AM
I think if Stevens were still a player the dems would have made a show of giving him a slap on the wrist. But unfortunately; at the end of the day, they all take care of each other on the Hill.
DCJeff on April 1, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Ed is for
Allah against
sven10077 on April 1, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Well, based on the last hour or so, it brings in the comments…
Snowed In on April 1, 2009 at 10:05 AM
As far as I am concerned he is innocent of all charges. Federal, state and local proecuters do this all of the time.
I know that on a federal level this is true because it happened to me in a civil suit and the prosecuter told me that I would run out of money before they would and he was right! They just kept continuing the case and after 5 years and $110,000, I settled with them for no money, because I didn’t have any more, and neither admitting nor denying guilt.
I guess the lawyer got a scalp to hang on his resume and moved on to better things.
Vince on April 1, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Lovin’ the Palin pics as well! Reminds me of when Brian went on vacation and all AP put on were Fred Thompson articles because he obviously couldn’t stand him.
DCJeff on April 1, 2009 at 10:08 AM
The MSM has blown off reporting about this on going corruption case that was against the prosecution team, but I guess with this ruling they can’t any more.
The question is will they report all the facts that cause the charges to be dropped? I doubt it.
JeffinSac on April 1, 2009 at 10:09 AM
The term View ladies is an oxymoron.
katiejane on April 1, 2009 at 10:09 AM
maybe they are replacing the dude with the camera logo with a Logo of Sarah Palin later today?
jp on April 1, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Sen. Stevens ethically quite when under investigation because the public deserves a ethical government. Sen. Stevens showed he is a person to be respected and he can not be replaced.
Unfortunately, we do not have similar people dealing with his case.
MSGTAS on April 1, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Oh, that was my point. Not only are there Clinton moles, but the general culture of civil service employees in Washington D.C. is very liberal. So if even the Bush appointees in Justice were unable to stop the political misconduct, imagine how bad it will be under Obama!
And, in response to those of you who said that Stevens was guilty of something… Perhaps you’re right, and I didn’t follow the case. But common sense suggests that if you have gross prosecutorial misconduct in a case, including the withholding of exculpatory evidence, it suggests the case isn’t as slam-dunk as you’d have it believe. If Stevens broke the law, the prosecutors should be able to secure a conviction without the nonsense.
Outlander on April 1, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Okay, thanks to the Palin pictures on every thread, I’m going to stick around all day on Hot Air.
yogi41 on April 1, 2009 at 10:15 AM
In other words Stevens is a sleeze, but there’s no longer any political upside to prosecuting him.
I hope that when republicans get in office they engage in serious payback. Prosecute Rangle, Frank, Dodd, etc. for anything. Because its the only way this kinda of crap is gonna stop.
Iblis on April 1, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Now the Justice Department is free to prosecute Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. But don’t hold your breath.
Percy_Peabody on April 1, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Ed,
Not to defend Ted, but he was investigated for 2 decades – harassed, had his compnay shut down practically, found nothing
All they found was – gasp they put in a basement and a wrap around porch which TED STEVENS PAID 150,000 dollars for
6 years later it was assessed by a prosecutor for 250,000
Hence the charge
Great…
Lets keep that in mind – rarely does the justice department after 20 years drop all charges on guilty people
EricPWJohnson on April 1, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Ed,
Any chance that you’ll gratuitously post a picture of Todd Palin for us gals?
NebCon on April 1, 2009 at 10:43 AM
The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced.
- Frank Zappa
MB4 on April 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Wait – a GOP Senator run out of office based on accusations from overzealous, politically-motivated prosecutors, for something that a Democrat would call small-time?
When has THAT ever happened before?
hawksruleva on April 1, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I would hope, though I know it’s a delusion, that prosecutors would pursue criminal activity among our government leaders, regardless of party. But that’s clearly not the case now.
hawksruleva on April 1, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I
For democrats, this is a resume-enhancer!
rmgraha on April 1, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I dissent from that conclusion. Remember, Stevens paid $160,000 for renovations…
More here.
Buy Danish on April 1, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Don’t give the credit to the Justice department. it actually comes to the judge who cited the Justice department for terrible misconduct. The Judge pounced on this and don’t give Holder the credit.
seven on April 1, 2009 at 11:05 AM
This is just dandy.He losses a close election because of what the Just.dept did now they say never mind.Now don,t get me wrong i think Stevens was a big spending Rino but this smells .Just like what happen to Tom Delay.Bring charges get him out of office then nothing ever happens.The Rep. in congress better learn fast how to use the leagal system to go after the Libs.Fight these scum bags ever way they can.This is WAR.
thmcbb on April 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM
How ironic,..election lost- so drop the trumped up charges?!? I hope he goes after everyone involved,..every last one of the obamabots!
.
.
.
.
GOV PALIN 2012!!
christene on April 1, 2009 at 11:24 AM
The difference is that most of her fans actually know what she stands for and what she thinks…as much as you can with any politician. I’d hazard a guess and say that most of her most ardent supporters love the conservative part of her nature more than her looks. So no…her looks are not the only reason she has fans.
None of the airheads on the View knew or cared about his policy positions. And I’d say that most of his fans that voted for the cute guy had no idea what his politics were either…just that he looked and sounded good. He was just a vessel for peoples goofy Utopian dreams.
And all the noise I heard from the catty liberal women I work with was all about her looks…bunch of green-eyed, shallow beasts. I’d say a lot of her detractors hate her because she’s attractive.
Asher on April 1, 2009 at 11:44 AM
NebCon, check out Esquire.com for a preview video of Todd Palin for the article they’re publishing in their May issue …
hrh40 on April 1, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Have these justice officials lost their job as Stevens rightfully did? If not, that is the only wrong that needs to be righted.
WashJeff on April 1, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Stevens was a rotten public servant, but prosecutorial misconduct must not go unpunished.
myrenovations on April 1, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Appalling.
Dave Rywall on April 1, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I wrote this on the other thread:
newton on April 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Stevens is a pretty powerful man. I imagine the meat grinder will now crank into high gear and nothing will be left of Palin but a pile of moose burger by the time he is done.
crosspatch on April 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I don’t trust those hacks at DOJ on anything. I think this is a massive coverup so those prosecutors never have to testify about who gave them their orders to withhold evidence. This was a political prosecution from start to finish, and they got away with the whole damn thing. Unbelievable.
These same people got away with staging a raid on Curt Weldon’s house just before the election in 2006. Anyone who thinks the DNC is not giving marching orders to the career lawyers and investigators at DOJ and the FBI is naive.
rockmom on April 1, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Don’t law and order conservatives hate when criminals get off on “technicalities.” Oh wait, that’s just when it happens for black people.
DeathToMediaHacks on April 1, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Lol…nothing like a little hyperbole in the morning.
Asher on April 1, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Is there any doubt why the conviction is going to be dismissed?
Hmm?
It’s simply this: Mr. Senator For Life knows every detail about every little bone fragment hiding in the Senate and House skeleton closets.
My guess is that he made mention he was going to write a memoir about his tenure in Congress. Complete with names, dates, and dollar amounts.
Statement from DoJ: “This is not the crooked Senator we’re looking for; move along.”
BobMbx on April 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Iblis on April 1, 2009 at 10:17 AM
thmcbb on April 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM
christene on April 1, 2009 at 11:24 AM
newton on April 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM
rockmom on April 1, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Its cute that the paranoid political conspiracy theorists among you (i.e., 97% of hotair readers) already forgot that it was the BUSH Justice Department that prosecuted Uncle Ted.
benny shakar on April 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Nice try.
You seem to conveniently forget that the DOJ has been thoroughly infested with Democrats since the 90s. Bush had a chance to kick them out, but since he wanted to be “bipartisan”, he did nothing in that respect. Thus, the results you see today.
newton on April 1, 2009 at 3:31 PM
You just hate her because she didn’t kill her baby.
Dubya Bee on April 1, 2009 at 3:38 PM
hey libs were does he go to get his reputation back
wade underhile on April 1, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Nice try.
The Lead Prosecutor on the case was a Bush appointee, and there is no way a sitting U.S. Senator would ever be prosecuted without the authorization of the U.S. Attorney General.
No soup for you!
benny shakar on April 1, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Uncle Ted was very good for the State of Alaska. Alaska has one, that’s right only one, congressman, and the only way Alaska even had a voice at the national level was because of Ted Stevens.
The charges were completely bogus. He didn’t hide a thing from anyone. The jerk from Veco who testified against him was given a sweetheart deal to do so–he was headed for jail already for other misconduct, but turned on Ted because he could get a lighter sentence. The prosecutors were filthy, and manufactured evidence to suit their case.
Now Alaska is stuck with Begich, who is as big a hack as his father was back in the day, and is extremely junior. How does that help anyone but the democratic leadership?
Just wait until they come for you.
tcn on April 1, 2009 at 11:08 PM
.
I want her as President because she embodies the conservative principles I believe in.
.
True beauty comes from within. I was in lust with Hilary for about two minutes, by the end of the interview I was udderly disgusted with myself for ever thinking she was so much as marginally attractive.
darktood on April 2, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Oh come on, we all know this was another media attempt to help the Democrats going into the recent election. After all, nothing keeps that “culture of corruption” schtick fresh in people’s minds like harping on it for months.
I’m not surprised at all that Stevens is off the hook now.
Ryan Gandy on April 2, 2009 at 10:38 AM