No kidding: four men were wrongly convicted in 1968 of a mafia-related murder based on testimony that the FBI knew was false (Boston Globe). When transferring the case to state prosecutors, the FBI shared the witness (Joe Barboza) but didn't share evidence that he was lying.
Consequently, Peter Limone and Joseph Salvati (now in their 70s) spent nearly 30 years in prison; Louis Greco and Henry Tameleo died there (Washington Post).
In 2001, secret files containing evidence of the false testimony were given to a judge, who overturned the convictions. A civil suit was filed, and Judge Nancy Gertner recently awarded nearly $102 million to the four affected families for division among multiple members who have lost years with their fathers and husbands.(Boston Globe) According to The Guardian (UK):
"Gertner said FBI agents Dennis Condon and H. Paul Rico not only withheld evidence of Barboza's lie, but told state prosecutors who were handling the Deegan murder investigation that they had checked out Barboza's story and it was true."
Similarly frightening is the modern-day Justice Department's argument while defending the government against the civil suit: basically, that the FBI had no obligation to share information with defense lawyers (Washington Post).
Judge Gertner found the Justice Department's position "in a word, absurd." (Guardian 2)
This case is an example of why it's important for Department of Justice officials --especially the Attorney General -- to be highly ethical, honest, and committed to defending justice (even if it means putting aside personal or political agendas).
This is why I'm comforted by the fact that Congress is investigating the apparent politicization of the Justice Department.
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