Prosecutors

Multiple Senators Ask AG to Resign

Under often heated questioning from Senators, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales held firm on his stance that the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys were proper, though poorly handled.

Apr 19, 2007 3:44 PM CDT

Gonzales to Testify Today

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is expected to testify today that he may have been imprecise in statements about the firings of eight U.S attorneys, but he never intended to mislead the American people.

Apr 19, 2007 12:00 PM CDT

CA Bills Seek to Prevent Wrongful Convictions

Criminal justice experts in a panel appointed by the state senate are urging the California legislature to pass new laws to help reduce the number of innocent defendants charged and convicted of crimes. Proposed bills they recommend seek to prevent false eyewitness identifications by setting standards for police lineups, eliminating…

Apr 19, 2007 1:25 AM CDT

Exonerated Duke Defendant: D.A. Should Resign

One of three former Duke lacrosse players declared earlier this week to be innocent of accusations of having raped a stripper at a team party is calling for the resignation of the Durham, N.C., district attorney who initially handled the prosecution. Colin Finnerty, through his lawyer, has asked state officials…

Apr 18, 2007 8:41 PM CDT

Cuomo Makes Mark in First 100 Days

New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo has assembled an experienced team of lawyers and made industry oversight a priority, the Washington Post says in a story analyzing his first 100 days in office. Cuomo’s probe of the student loan industry has set the agenda for Congress and industry regulators,…

Apr 18, 2007 2:48 PM CDT

House Eyes Immunity for ex-DOJ Aide

The House Judiciary Committee is considering whether to grant limited immunity to Monica Goodling, who was White House liaison for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Bloomberg News reports. Goodling has cited the Fifth Amendment in refusing to testify before Congress about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. Judiciary Committee Chairman John…

Apr 18, 2007 2:26 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor Praises Duke Lawyers

The defense lawyers who skillfully represented three former Duke University lacrosse players declared innocent this week of raping a stripper at a team party remind all of us why we need defense lawyers, said Randy E. Barnett, a former Cook County, Illinois prosecutor. In an opinion piece in today’s Wall…

Apr 17, 2007 4:22 PM CDT

Reviews Promised for Gang Lists

Los Angeles will make it easier for gang members to be removed from injunctions that restrict their activities. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo announced yesterday that he has established formal hearings in his office to review removal requests, the Los Angeles Times reports. The injunctions are key in the city’s fight…

Apr 17, 2007 2:25 PM CDT

Ex-Chief of Staff Calls Gonzales ‘Inaccurate’

In an interview with congressional investigators, the former chief of staff for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said his former boss was “inaccurate” or “at least not complete” when he said he did not discuss the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. D. Kyle Sampson’s statements were released yesterday, the New York…

Apr 17, 2007 1:15 PM CDT

Gonzales Hearing Off, Due to Va. Massacre

U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales’ scheduled hearing Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee has been postponed because of the massacre today at Virginia Tech. According to the latest news reports, at least 33 were killed and at least another 30 were injured in two separate on-campus shooting sprees. The death toll…

Apr 16, 2007 11:45 PM CDT

US Attorney Mess Spreads to Wisconsin

Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, is calling for embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to consider reinstating any U.S. attorney who was improperly dismissed in a political purge, the Bloomberg news agency reports. Meanwhile, Adam Cohen of the New York Times, in a news analysis,…

Apr 16, 2007 8:35 PM CDT

Poll: Almost Half Say Gonzales Should be Fired

The public is divided on whether U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should be forced out because of his handling of the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Forty-five percent of those surveyed said Gonzales should lose his job, and 39 percent said he should…

Apr 16, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

Will Terrorism Trial Be Cautionary Tale?

Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting to release a “dirty bomb,” goes on trial in Miami this week on federal terrorism charges. In pretrial rulings, U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke excluded evidence obtained during the 3 ½ years Padilla was held without charges in solitary confinement, the Los Angeles Times…

Apr 16, 2007 2:46 PM CDT

Ex-Reagan Budget Chief Says His Prosecution is ‘Sick’

The former budget director for Ronald Reagan, facing trial on charges he hid the financial condition of the company he headed, is angry about the prosecution, the New York Times reports. “It’s wrong. It’s sick,” David Stockman told the newspaper. “How can you end up losing $13 million of your…

Apr 16, 2007 1:51 PM CDT

Student Loan Company to Pay $2.5 Million

A third lender accused of paying colleges for student loan referrals has agreed to a settlement, the New York Times reports. Education Finance Partners will pay $2.5 million to resolve an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, according to the newspaper. The company also will agree to new…

Apr 16, 2007 1:24 PM CDT