Fed missteps jeopardize terror case:

[pollock]

"DETROIT — Prosecutorial missteps and questionable investigative practices threaten to undermine the convictions in the first terror trial held in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

A Detroit News review of thousands of pages of documents in the case and interviews with law enforcement experts found that the case was colored by an overly aggressive prosecution in an atmosphere of public demand for a terror crackdown.

Government investigators repeatedly ignored rules intended to ensure a fair trial. What resulted was an investigation geared toward winning at any cost. The government literally went around the world to bolster seemingly benign evidence and transformed an obvious case of document fraud into the nation’s first post-September 11 terror trial..."
http://www.detnews.com/2004/specialreport/0403/28/a01-105567.htm

[Bluzmann57]

1. Well we all want to see these people locked up

or dead, but there are laws and the law should be followed without exception. It isn't surprising that Asscroft's FBI didn't follow the rules in their zeal to nail some possible terrorists. But for the security of this country, they better do it right. If these guys get off, they could really unleash terror on the U.S. just because they're upset about being singled out. Why can't these "pros" see this if a simple working stiff like me can?

[pollock]

2. from different story in today's Detroit News:

"The former lead prosecutor, Richard G. Convertino, who was removed from the case last September, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and other top officials, accusing them of playing politics with the case..."

Ashcroft was warned by the judge for two separate gag order violations. It is amazing there such high level problems with this case. Although it is hard to judge whether all 4 defendents are innocent, the case against them seemed rather vague.