Legal observers criticize Stevens case

WASHINGTON, April 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department's botched prosecution of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was a matter of inexperience and thin staffing, legal observers say.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that experts say the team that prosecuted the corruption case mishandled witnesses and evidence.

The newspaper noted the compressed trial last year forced government lawyers to rush their case, turning the judge against them.

"In high-profile cases, particularly cases involving public officials, the vetting process has fallen down," said Thomas C. Green, a Washington defense lawyer. "I think what happens is that they get caught up in the competition and there's no experienced voice of reason who says we cannot do this, we should not do this, we must not do this. These two cases could not have happened if the vetting process was in place and operating as it should."

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan last week dismissed the conviction against Stevens, who had represented Alaska in the Senate for nearly 40 years, before losing his re-election bid in November just after his trial.

Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney defended the agency's anti-corruption team.

"For more than 30 years, the Public Integrity Section has been effectively prosecuting public officials, regardless of political affiliation, who abuse their office and their obligation to the American people," Sweeney said. "Every day, in courtrooms nationwide, these prosecutors work under challenging circumstances to hold our public officials accountable for their conduct, and they will continue to do so."