Replies

"Except Senator Stevens was indicted and prosecuted by the Bush administration’s Justice Department and the charges were dropped by a Democrat. The Judge in the Stevens case is a Clinton appointee to his current position on the US District Court bench.

In many respects, the DOJ is very much like the DOS. It's populated with career bureaucrats that frequently have a left-wing bent. Sure, there was a Bush political appointee (as US Attorney) that was in charge of the district office, but it was "career" prosecutors that managed the case and are now facing scrutiny.

Assuming for a minute that Bush's appointed US Attorney for that district (USA) became of aware of the states problems, what were they to do - in a practical sense. Remember, this trial was held during a contentious and politically charged time. If Bush's USA would have dropped the charges, the DEMS would have screamed bloody murder and the press would have had a field day.

Having said that, there isn't any allegation the US attorney was aware of the misconduct of the assigned prosecutors and FBI agents handling the case.

So, to use a phrase like "this was a Bush Administration" prosecution, is terribly misleading - IMHO.

In many respects, the DOJ is very much like the DOS. It’s populated with career bureaucrats that frequently have a left-wing bent. Sure, there was a Bush political appointee (as US Attorney) that was in charge of the district office, but it was “career” prosecutors that managed the case and are now facing scrutiny.

Assuming for a minute that Bush’s appointed US Attorney for that district (USA) became of aware of the states problems, what were they to do - in a practical sense. Remember, this trial was held during a contentious and politically charged time. If Bush’s USA would have dropped the charges, the DEMS would have screamed bloody murder and the press would have had a field day.

Having said that, there isn’t any allegation the US attorney was aware of the misconduct of the assigned prosecutors and FBI agents handling the case.

So, to use a phrase like “this was a Bush Administration” prosecution, is terribly misleading - IMHO.

The indictment and prosecution of Senator Stevens was handled by the Public Integrity section of the Justice Department in Washington DC, not by a US Attorney.
It is top officials of the Public Integrity section who are under fire from the Judge. Both William Welch, former head of the Public Integrity section and Brenda Morris, former lead prosecutor for the Public Integrity section were promoted to their positions by Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General.