Free Republic

The chief of the Justice Department’s public integrity section, which came under fire for the botched prosecution of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, is stepping down from his position. The official, William M. Welch II, who became a subject of an internal inquiry into the handling of the Stevens case, will return to Massachusetts, where he was a longtime federal prosecutor, and resume his career in that role. William W. Taylor, a lawyer representing him, said in a statement Wednesday that Mr. Welch had decided to move back to Massachusetts “for family reasons.” “While the ultimate result in the Stevens...

How about a nice cozy job as U.S. Attorney for the state of Massachusetts? Never know, but it doesn’t hurt to ask! From an article written February 12, 2009: “A former Springfield prosecutor who rocketed to a high-ranking spot in the U.S. Justice Department is vying for the top law enforcement job in Massachusetts….” “Welch, a registered Democrat [emphasis added], served in the Springfield U.S. Attorney’s office from 1995 to 2006, where he built a reputation as a brainy, unrelenting prosecutor….” “Historically, the senior senator [Fat Sir Teddy] from the president’s party picks nominees for U.S. Attorney and other senior...

You have to do some digging to get the facts about the Ted Stevens sham of a suspiciously timed prosecution of a sitting United States Republican senator. The Justice Department admitted Wednesday that its career prosecutors acted improperly in the prosecution that drove Senator Ted Stevens from office last fall. Indeed, the trail was was so tainted that we can't independently assess the verdict against Mr. Stevens, but one thing is clear: Federal prosecutors are guilty of misconduct that cost Republicans a Senate seat. And upon further digging, we have the names and background information on the previously anonymous "federal...