WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department Thursday asked to have the cases of two Alaska lawmakers convicted on corruption charges sent back district court.
Federal prosecutors took the rare step of asking the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals to remand the cases of former Alaska state Reps. Victor Kohring, R-Wasilla, and Peter Kott, R-Eagle River, because they said the Justice Department had uncovered material that should have been disclosed to the defense prior to trial but was not.
Justice officials also said in a news release they had asked the federal appellate court to release Kohring and Kott on personal recognizance.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder instructed the department's criminal division to review the department's public corruption investigation in Alaska to confirm all discovery obligations have been met.
"After a careful review of these cases, I have determined that it appears that the department did not provide information that should have been disclosed to the defense," Holder said. "Department of Justice prosecutors work hard every day and perform a great service for the American people. But the department's mission is to do justice, not just win cases, and when we make mistakes, it is our duty to admit and correct those mistakes. We are committed to doing that."
Kohring was convicted in U.S. District Court in Alaska in November 2007 of bribery and extortion-related charges. He was sentenced in May 2008 to 42 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
Kott was convicted in September 2007 of bribery and extortion-related charges and was sentenced on 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
