WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled Wednesday a report on alleged misconduct in the prosecution of former Sen. Ted Stevens should be made public.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in Washington that the report written by a special prosecutor looking into allegations against U.S. Justice Department lawyers should be released March 15.
Sullivan denied a motion by some of the attorneys under investigation to permanently seal the 500-page report, which was authored by special prosecutor Henry Schuelke.
"To deny the public access to Mr. Schuelke's Report under the circumstances of this case would be an affront to the First Amendment and a blow to the fair administration of justice," Judge Sullivan said in his written ruling.
Stevens, R-Alaska, was convicted in 2008 on charges of lying on his Senate financial disclosure forms. He was charged with failing to report gifts from oilfield services contractor Bill Allen.
The convictions were thrown out the following year at which time Sullivan appointed Schuelke to look into possible criminal contempt-of-court charges against members of the prosecution for their various missteps. The Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News said Schuelke did not recommend any criminal charges because the attorneys had not violated any of the judge's orders.
