Prosecutors

Acquitted Prosecutor Questions Political Influence

The dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys is raising questions about whether federal prosecutors were pressured to investigate Democrats. One of the critics interviewed by the New York Times is Carl J. Marlinga, a former county prosecutor and Democratic congressional candidate in Michigan, who was acquitted of bribery charges. “Was there…

May 1, 2007 1:54 PM CDT

Attorney Convicted in Stock Price Scheme

An Atlanta attorney has been found guilty of securities fraud. Attorney Ulysses Thomas Ware was accused of issuing press releases to increase the price of stock before selling it at a profit, the New York Law Journal reports. A federal jury in the Southern District of New York found Ware…

May 1, 2007 1:32 PM CDT

Top Gonzales Aides Could Fire Non-U.S. Attys

As the controversy continues over the alleged political purge of eight U.S. attorneys, information has come to light about who was empowered to fire lower-level employees. A Justice Department order shows that U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales authorized two top aides to fire political appointees who didn’t require Senate confirmation.…

May 1, 2007 11:01 AM CDT

Lt. Col. E-mail in Iraq Case ‘Adulterous in Nature’

The case against a top Army commander accused of misconduct that could put him in prison for life, if convicted, began to unfold today as an Article 32 hearing began in Baghdad against Lt. Col. William H. Steele. Steele, a 51-year-old reservist from Virginia, is accused of aiding the enemy…

Apr 30, 2007 8:27 PM CDT

Spring Brings Fashion Police Blitz in Iran

Men, is the top button of your dress shirt undone? Women, are you wearing a bright-colored scarf? That could mean the fashion police are hot on your trail, if you happen to be on a public street in Iran. Spring is traditionally the time for amped-up enforcement of the Islamic…

Apr 30, 2007 8:05 PM CDT

Hate Crimes Hard to Prove, Rarely Prosecuted

Nationwide, hate crimes are not reported as often as one might think, and they are rarely prosecuted. Although some say this reflects a racial bias, it can also be difficult to prove hate crimes. The number of reported cases can vary widely. Louisiana and Mississippi, for instance, reported three and…

Apr 30, 2007 6:14 PM CDT

Ex-DOJ Atty Scrutinized for Abramoff Dealings

Investigators are looking at contacts between a former Justice Department lawyer and a colleague of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The investigation involves dealings between ex-DOJ lawyer Robert E. Coughlin II and Abramoff colleague Kevin A. Ring, the Washington Post reports. The Post reported that Ring treated Coughlin to sporting events with…

Apr 30, 2007 5:51 PM CDT

Experts Re-evaluate Shaken-Baby Evidence

Some experts are questioning the validity of shaken-baby syndrome. One of them is Robert Huntington III, the Washington Post reports. He is a forensic pathologist who helped convict Audrey Edmunds in the shaking death of the child she babysat. Critics contend shaking alone cannot cause death without other signs of…

Apr 30, 2007 5:36 PM CDT

Political Appointees Won’t Pick DOJ Interns

Responsibility for hiring some new lawyers and interns at the U.S. Justice Department will return to career prosecutors. An internal memo announced that political appointees will be removed from the hiring process. It was issued last Thursday following allegations that jobs went to well-connected conservative candidates, the Washington Post reports.…

Apr 30, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

U.S. Aid for Colombian Probes Sought

Colombia’s top prosecutor meets with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales today as he seeks help for his investigation of links between corporations and right-wing paramilitary groups. Mario Iguaran wants to know if U.S.-based corporations funded the groups, known for death squads, drug trading and extortion, the Associated Press reports. Chiquita…

Apr 30, 2007 3:58 PM CDT

Attorney-Firing Investigator Being Investigated

A Washington Post story weighs in on the controversy surrounding the lawyer who will be leading the investigation of political influence in government decision-making. Scott J. Bloch will be investigating the administration at the same time it is investigating him for his personnel practices, the story says. Employees have accused…

Apr 30, 2007 3:44 PM CDT

Writer’s Brain Scan Part of Defense

The defense will rely on a brain scan in an attempt to show that the New York writer accused of sexually assaulting an editor had mental illness that made him unable to form the intent to commit the offense. The lawyer for former fashion columnist Peter Braunstein will introduce a…

Apr 30, 2007 2:11 PM CDT

Milberg Lawyer Challenges ‘Kickback’ Charge

A lawyer who once worked at Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman in New York is taking issue with the government’s definition of the term “kickback.” Steven G. Schulman is seeking dismissal of criminal charges against him in a motion set to be heard June 4 in Los Angeles federal court,…

Apr 30, 2007 12:32 PM CDT

Dutch Bank Negotiating Plea Deal

ABN Amro Holding NV is negotiating a deal with the Justice Department to settle an investigation into improper handling of money transfers from countries sanctioned for terrorism, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports. The fine could be as high as $500 million, which would make it the largest penalty…

Apr 27, 2007 8:52 PM CDT

‘A’ Student Arrested for Essay: ‘Stab, Stab, Stab’

The assignment: “Write whatever comes to your mind. Do not judge or censor what you are writing.” The result: An ‘A’ student is arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. His essay, reports the Chicago Tribune, contained one passage that included a discussion of “shooting everyone” and “having sex with dead…

Apr 27, 2007 5:26 PM CDT