Judge's Ruling May Bode Well For Wecht Team (Wecht is a Democrat)

[Bravo Zulu]

Last Month, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan asked a federal judge to sanction Wecht's attorney and possibly throw them in jail.

But today, the judge denied that request.

Schwab unsealed the disciplinary records of Bradley Orsini, the FBI agent who headed the investigation into Wecht and who obtained search warrants to confiscate records and computers from Wecht's offices two years ago.

Wecht's attorneys were not talking today but in the past they have called Orsini a rogue agent with a history of credibility problems who overstepped his authority in the search.

"We're attacking the investigative techniques of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office as well as the law they relied upon in the execution of the search warrants.
http://kdka.com/local/local_story_192164419.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07192/800871-100.stm

[Bravo Zulu]

1. U.S. House panel seeks Wecht prosecution documents

The House Judiciary Committee has sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the U.S. Department of Justice asking for documents related to three high-profile prosecutions of Democratic officials, including that of former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, the chairman of the committee, sent the letter yesterday, requesting that "certain critical documents and information relating to U.S. Attorney's offices that may have initiated prosecutions against public officials and others based on their political affiliation" be turned over by July 27.

"Allegations that even one of the nation's 93 U.S. Attorneys is improperly prosecuting or failing to prosecute Democratic officials based on their political affiliation have the potential to taint and undermine the legitimacy of our entire criminal justice system," Mr. Conyers wrote.

Now the committee is requesting documents from the Wecht investigation, "in particular any memoranda, analysis, or other communications discussing whether and to what extent criminal charges should be and were pursued."

Rep. Conyers also asked for any communication with White House staff, congressional members or staff or local or state political officials related to the investigation.

In the letter, the committee specifically refers to the fact that the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh has indicted only Democratic officeholders since 2001.

"Yet U.S. Attorney Buchanan has not brought charges against at least two Republican officials who, like Dr. Wecht, are alleged to have misused their office staff."

Mr. Siegelman, a Democrat, was convicted of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud. He was indicted in 2004, two years after losing the closest governor's race in state history.

Ms. Thompson, who was charged with improperly awarding a contract to a travel agency whose director contributed to the Democratic governor's campaign, had her conviction thrown out in April by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the evidence against her was "beyond thin."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07199/802526-100.stm

[Bravo Zulu]

2. The Wecht indictment

The Wecht indictment
Given the Bushies' record, you have to wonder if it's all about politics
An ambitious and enthusiastic Bush partisan like U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan might well consider Dr. Wecht a plum target, good for many brownie points at the White House. Indeed, that is exactly the sort of thing this Justice Department requires from prosecutors -- just ask the nine who were summarily dismissed for failing to pursue Democratic politicians and "voter fraud" with sufficient zeal.

This White House has been seven times more likely to go after local Democratic officials than Republicans, according to a study by Donald Shields and John Cragan, two professors emeriti from the University of Minnesota. No shock, then, that Ms. Buchanan hasn't indicted a single GOP officeholder since taking the reins in 2001 while indicting or investigating at least five prominent Democrats.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07203/803200-149.stm