US: Ex-Prosecutor Should Be Convicted

AP via Google ^ | October 30, 2007 | David Runk

[CutePuppy]

US: Ex-Prosecutor Should Be Convicted

By DAVID RUNK

DETROIT (AP) — A former federal prosecutor and an ex-State Department investigator wanted so badly to win convictions in the nation's first major terrorism trial after the Sept. 11 attacks that they broke the law themselves, a government attorney said Tuesday.

"They crossed over the line from upholding the law to violating it," Eileen Gleason told jurors in closing arguments in the case against Richard Convertino and Harry Smith III. The two have pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice, making false declarations before a court and conspiracy.

The defense also was expected to deliver its closing statement later Tuesday.

William Sullivan, Convertino's lawyer, has said the former federal prosecutor and Smith, a former State Department investigator, only were trying to bust up a terrorist cell and shouldn't be on trial.

For two years, Convertino led the government's case against four North African men accused of operating a "sleeper" terrorist cell. Two of the four, Karim Koubriti and Abdel-Ilah Elmardoudi, were convicted in 2003 of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, and Convertino won praise from the Bush administration for his successful convictions.

Smith helped in the investigation and testified for the government at the trial.

However, a federal judge overturned the verdicts at the Justice Department's request after prosecutors discovered that some documents that could have aided the defense during the trial were not turned over by the government as required.

Convertino was indicted last year on allegations that he conspired to obstruct justice and lied to a federal judge in connection with case.

The indictment said Convertino and Smith conspired to keep from defense lawyers photographs of a Jordanian hospital that would have undermined the government's argument that the alleged Detroit cell made surveillance sketches of the place.

Convertino also elicited testimony from Smith and an FBI agent that the sketch matched the hospital and its surrounding area, even though the photographs contradicted that description, the indictment said.

The criminal trial before U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow began three weeks ago.

[CutePuppy]

So, when does trial of Patrick Fitzgerald start?

Here is some additional info about Convertiono: http://convertino.net/about.html

And congratulaatory letter from Janet Reno to Convertino, dated 3/21/1998: http://convertino.net/reno.html

[CutePuppy]

Links didn’t work.

Here is some additional info about Convertiono:
http://convertino.net/about.html

And congratulaatory letter from Janet Reno to Convertino, dated 3/21/1998:
http://convertino.net/reno.html

[Enterprise]

Bump

[geezerwheezer]

Wow, you think any prosecutor would make up stuff like “Nifong” somebody maybe? Withhold evidence....my, my! Book ‘em Daniel.