Charges Against Former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens To Be Dismissed

During the elections there was a high profile case being made against Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens involving oil company lobbyists and the Senator's home. During the trial against Stevens allegations came to light about some misconduct on the part of the prosecutors, including prosecutors withholding evidence from the defense and lying to the judge about it as well as an alleged sexual affair between an FBI agent and a witness that was not known to the defense.

Today news reports show that the U.S. Justice Department is moving to dismiss all charges against Stevens.

The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday moved to dismiss charges against former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens amid accusations of prosecutorial misconduct, according to a motion filed in federal court.

Stevens, a Republican who served longer than any other U.S. senator before losing a November re-election race, was convicted in October of seven counts of lying on a Senate disclosure form to conceal $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil industry executive and other friends.

Allegations of prosecutorial misconduct have delayed his sentencing.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder reviewed the case himself and decided not to continue to defend the conviction in the face of questions about prosecutors'' actions, National Public Radio reported on its website.

The type of misconduct engaged in by the prosecution would have guaranteed the overturning of the conviction upon appeal, while causing the Justice Department much embarrassment.

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