AP: FBI Didn't Search 'I - Drive' Files

[Florida_Geek]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-FBI-Documents.html

AP: FBI Didn't Search 'I - Drive' Files
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: March 2, 2004


Filed at 1:56 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In an oversight that could impact cases nationwide, the FBI hasn't routinely searched a special computer space where agents store investigative documents to see whether those materials should be sent to defense lawyers, Congress or special investigative bodies like the Sept. 11 inquiry.

The existence of the unsearched ``I-drive'' computer files, brought to the attention of The Associated Press by concerned FBI agents, could give lawyers an avenue to reopen numerous cases to determine whether documents that could have aided the defense of criminal defendants were withheld
...more at article.


Note to non Geeks: The "I-Drive" sounds like a network disk drive where the phyical disk drive is probably in Washington, so by moving files to this space, they are not phyically on an agents computer and they could then say they turned over all material on "their" computer.

[enough]

1. Yikes

snip>

Under a landmark Supreme Court case known as Brady v. Maryland, prosecutors and police are required to disclose all materials they possess that might help defense lawyers prove the innocence of clients.

Prosecutors operate under an honor system, and numerous times in recent years there have been prominent cases in which relevant or exculpatory documents haven't been produced, touching off legal battles.

Lawrence Barcella, a prominent Washington defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, said the discovery of the FBI's unsearched computer storage space could affect current cases in which guilt or innocence is still at issue and past cases where questions of the fairness of sentences or credibility of witnesses might be impacted.

snip>

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Is anyone really surprised by this behavior by some FBI types?

[Florida_Geek]

3. no nt

[Gman]

4. Typical of the "disingenuous" way these people do thing

they put a lot of stock in being able to tell what they consider the truth knowing full well they are withholding information.

[UpInArms]

5. a lie by omission is still a lie eom