Montgomery, AL – A federal judge says he's considering sanctions against federal prosecutors for repeated delays in turning over FBI documents to defense attorney in Alabama gambling corruption cases.
Defense attorneys told U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel Jr. that the sanctions should include throwing out the charges against their clients.
During a hearing Friday, the judge said the Justice Department sent in an ``an elite group from D.C.'' to prosecute the case but its conduct has been ridiculous. The judge did not indicate how soon he would rule on whether to impose sanctions or how far they might go.
Before the hearing, the Justice Department changed lead prosecutors in the case, with Justin Shur replacing Peter Ainsworth, who is the senior deputy chief in the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section.
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