Judge Holds Stevens Prosecutors in Contempt [View All]

[kpete]

Source: Congressional Quarterly

Judge Holds Stevens Prosecutors in Contempt
By Bart Jansen, CQ Staff

A federal judge Friday cited the prosecutors in the case against former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens for contempt, calling their failure to release documents to defense lawyers “outrageous.”

U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordered Jan. 21 that the government turn over documents related to an FBI agent’s allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in the case.

But the documents still hadn’t been released before a 2 p.m. hearing in the case. Sullivan ordered their release by 5 p.m., and said he would postpone imposing punishment until after the case is over.

“That’s outrageous for the Department of Justice,” Sullivan said of the failure to produce the documents. “I hold the attorneys in contempt of court.”

At least four prosecutors cited included the chief of the Department of Justice’s public integrity section, William Welch, and his deputy who argued the case, Brenda Morris. The prosecutors didn’t respond to judge’s citation and a spokeswoman said they don’t typically respond under such circumstances.

Read more: http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003047141