E-Mails Show Prosecutors Feared Detroit Terror Case Weak, 'Vindictive'

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB9W5PKM8E.html

AP Enterprise: E-Mails Show Prosecutors Feared Part of Detroit Terror Case Was Weak, 'vindictive'
By John Solomon
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Justice Department prosecutors originally concluded that filing fraud charges against a group of Detroit men suspected of terrorism would be weak and appear "vindictive," then turned around and filed the charges anyway after their terror case unraveled, internal e-mails show.

The fraud prosecution proceeded recently even though the FBI warned that bringing such a weak case could harm its ability to develop sources in the war on terror and "may actually encourage extremists," according to the Justice Department memos obtained by The Associated Press.

Those who originally advised against pursuing the fraud case included the federal prosecutor in Detroit who now is overseeing the fraud prosecution. "The feeling here is we should not bring this mail fraud case," Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Gershel in Detroit wrote in May 2003.

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The e-mails revive questions about the fairness, thoroughness and conduct of a government case that once was hailed by the Bush administration as a major victory in the war on terror before it collapsed.

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