Former federal prosecutor to discuss pending indictment

The Detriot Free Press reports:

A former federal prosecutor plans to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. today to discuss his impending indictment for his handling of the nation’s first trial to result from the federal probe of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to his spokesman.

W. Edward Wendover of Plymouth said former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino expects to be indicted soon by a federal grand jury for alleged prosecutorial misconduct in the terrorism case and that the investigation has been plagued by news leaks.

Two Detroit-area immigrants were convicted in U.S. District Court in Detroit in June 2003 for conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office later persuaded the trial judge to dismiss the terrorism charges on the grounds that Convertino withheld crucial evidence from the defendants. The Bush Administration initially hailed the convictions as a victory in its war on terror.

Great moments on the war on terror.