Amazing that former Sen. Ted Stevens got first look by Attorney General Holder, but the Siegelman, Minor, et all cases were not even mentioned by the DOJ in their quest to restore justice back to the DOJ. I have come to the conclusion that the reason for this is likely the same reason that Holder has not been actively going after those who ordered torture, like former VP Dick Cheney. The reason is that the political prosecutions that took place during the Bush years go straight up into the White House. When I first began reporting on the Siegelman case two years ago, there were 34 former state attorneys general of both parties demanding an investigation. Now that number has reached 75:
“We believe that if prosecutorial misconduct is found, as in the case of Senator Ted Stevens, then dismissal should follow in this case as well,” the group said in the letter, which was organized by Robert Abrams, a former attorney general of New York.
Oh, there is enough prosecutorial misconduct that does not require caution in saying so. Go back through my series on this (links at end) and then watch the 60 Minutes segment on the case. The fact that this many people have to keep reminding the Attorney General of the United States that something very serious has happened is astonishing.
How many ways can it be said, presented, asked about before the DOJ silence on this becomes deafening? Paul Minor has waited in jail for some attention from the DOJ and in that time he lost his wife to cancer. What kind of justice then can we expect after someone has been robbed of their freedom and basic constitutional protections? How much has to happen for Mr. Holder to take a look? Or is it, that he has seen the who and what of it and knows that he cannot open this can of worms without heading straight into the highest levels of government and into the White House of the past administration? I am guessing that this is likely the case.
On a final note, the NYT also cites a DOJ spokesperson with regard to their internal investigations of these matters:
Laura Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, said the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the Siegelman case.
But she pointed out that a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit recently upheld Mr. Siegelman’s conviction, and because he is appealing that ruling, “the department will continue to litigate this matter in the courts, not in the media.”
Sure Laura, go with that line. On two occasions Sweeney either knowingly lied to me or was lied to and in turn lied to me. Whatever the case, the fact that I was lied to twice by the same person - even if they had no idea that what they were saying was not true - makes everything they say after that suspect.
I contacted Sweeney the first time to find out if US Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, Leura Canary (Siegelman's prosecutor) had recused herself. Sweeney told me she had. When I asked for documentation of this alleged recusal, Sweeney told me that those types of records are not public (why would they be, right?). As it turns out from what was later reported, Canary was in contact daily with the prosecution team and advising them on strategy and such, and no such documents (for public viewing or not) exist that in any way, shape, or form support Canary's recusal claims or Sweeney's assertions to support those claims.
When I contacted Sweeney a second time to discuss the claims made by then US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Dunnica Lampton (Paul Minor's, et al prosecutor), I was again told that Lampton had absolutely recused himself. The problem with this second claim for Sweeney is that in advance I came prepared with evidence that he did not. I asked Sweeney if it is true that Lampton had recused himself why it was he was found sitting at the prosecutor's table on and off during the case? Sweeney could not answer that follow-up question, nor did she get back to me - as she had promised - after she said she would research the matter.
That said, is the DOJ investigating these political prosecutions? My understanding is that they are, but the particulars of what they are looking at and whom are buried behind a veil of secrecy. That level of secrecy concerns me greatly.
Then there is the matter that Canary and her Alabama counterpart for the Northern District, Alice Martin, continue to practice their form of law on behalf of the DOJ. I find it remarkable that an investigation into abuses by a federal prosecutor would not consider suspending said prosecutor until the investigation had been concluded. After all, these prosecutors are bringing more cases against more people. Would it not be a good idea to ask them to take a leave of absence until the investigation is complete?
No, I have lost all faith in Mr. Holder addressing something as basic as corruption of his department as a matter of top priority. He might get to it and even if he does, my guess is that we will never see the full truth of this corruption because a cover-up continues for reasons I do not yet understand - and maybe never will. But I no longer believe that people are looking, investigating, or whatever they are doing with full interest in fixing the corruption at the DOJ. They have yet to take one step forward on this matter and show the public something of good faith. The Stevens' case is not an example of good faith. It was the right thing to do, but it was not top priority because Stevens was not in jail with a dying spouse nor unable to find work (he is retired) as a result of this mess and therefor unable to support his family. It seems to me that Mr. Holder addressed this political bone for the Republicans first and foremost and that too is playing politics with something as sacrosanct as justice.
This is a cover-up. There is no other explanation.
Links:
- Part 1: Political Prisoner
- Part 2: Siegelman's Daughter Speaks Out
- Part 3: Running Elections from the White House
- Part 4: Mississippi Prosecutions
- Part 5: Interview with Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver E. Diaz, Jr.
- Part 6: Break-Ins Plague Targets of Political Prosecutions
- Part 7: Justice for Sale
- Judge who denied Paul Minor's release protoge of Karl Rove
- DOJ Investigating 2 US Attorneys in alleged political prosecutions
- 60 Minutes signal dropped in Alabama only during Siegelman portion
- Interview with Dana Jill Simpson on Karl Rove's alleged smears
- Karl Rove's next move: A Million Dollar House in Florida
- Abramoff said he had agreement with White House aid regarding communications
- Treasury Department investigating US Attorney for sharing private income tax returns of a case target
