FBI agent short on details on militia inquiry (Update to an earlier thread)

[shadowrider]

DETROIT - An FBI agent who led the investigation of nine Michigan militia members charged with trying to launch war against the federal government couldn't recall many details of the two-year probe yesterday during questioning by defense lawyers.

Even the judge who must decide whether to release the nine until trial was puzzled.

"I share the frustrations of the defense team … that she doesn't know anything," U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts said after agent Leslie Larsen confessed she hadn't reviewed her notes recently and couldn't remember specific details of the case.

http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100428/NEWS02/4280343/-1/rss

Such an important case, according to the FBI, and they can't recall any details. Hmmmmmm.

[Callisto32]

1. As usual with the state: Smell test = fail.

[shadowrider]

3. Agreed

This is looking, at first glance, like it's a "Because I said so" type of case, proof be damned.

[Euromutt]

2. I'm no friend to the "Freemen"/"Patriot"/"Militia" movement...

...but I do expect the executive branch of government to keep proper documentation of material relevant to a criminal prosecution. Along the lines of "if we support a ban on letting the neo-Nazis march this year, we can't protest if someone bans the Gay Pride parade next year," letting the DoJ prosecute right-wingers using a shoddy case now sets an ugly precedent for when the Republicans ever regain control of the White House.

[zipplewrath]

4. it is embarassing

This wasn't a trial, so apparently the FBI took that as an excuse not to prepare for the proceedings. I can understand that someone needs to review 2 year old notes in order to properly testify. But that means you have to review the 2 year old notes, not just hope that the judge will trust you that you know what you're doing.

[Historic NY]

5. The quality of agents today isn't like the old days....

its like that all over. Why didn't the Federal Prosecutor do his or her job too? Why didn't the supervising agent do his or her job? The most basic thing in law enforcement was to prepare for court room testimony.

[Hoopla Phil]

7. The judge had ordered them to be prepared. They ignored the judge.

If the judge had any stones someone would sit a couple of days behind bars for contempt - and that is EXACTLY what it was.

[Callisto32]

9. If I were a judge, and the prosecution came in with a "star witness" like that...

Litigation 101 "KNOW YOUR CASE, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, INSIDE-OUT, BACKWARDS, UPSIDE DOWN." It's just a guess, but I have a suspicion that this was neither the prosecutor nor the agent's first rodeo. Inexcusable.

I bet they thought charging "sedition" would be enough for the court to just jump into kangaroo mode....

Going to a hearing unprepared, what a waste of time and everybody's money.

[Hoopla Phil]

6. 100% correct!!! We must speak up of injustice no matter who is being railroaded. It could be

one of us next.

[shadowrider]

8. Further info on this (Link to different story)

DETROIT (AP) - A federal judge challenged prosecutors Wednesday to show that nine members of a Michigan militia accused of plotting war against the government had done more than just talk and should remain locked up.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts heard nearly 10 hours of testimony and arguments over two days. She did not make a decision about whether the nine will remain in custody, saying only that a ruling would come soon.

The members of a southern Michigan group called Hutaree have been in custody for a month. An indictment accuses them of weapons violations and a rare crime: conspiring to commit sedition, or rebellion, against the government by first killing police officers.

Prosecutors say the public would be at risk if the nine are released. But defense lawyers claim the government has overreached with a criminal case based mostly on hateful speech.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100429/D9FCD8I00.html