Judges Toss Charges Against 9 over US Attorney Darin Smith’s ‘Deeply Concerning’ Misconduct
The judges said Smith’s comments and conduct could have biased jurors, and the dismissals were stayed while defendants may seek permanent relief.
- On Friday, three federal judges—Kelly Rankin, Scott Skavdahl, and Alan Johnson—dismissed felony indictments against nine defendants, citing misconduct by interim U.S. Attorney for Wyoming Darin Smith that prejudiced jurors.
- During grand jury proceedings in Casper on March 15, Smith handed out business cards to jurors and made inappropriate comments before a judge entered the chamber, conduct the judges wrote was "concerning on two fronts."
- Defense attorneys argue that Smith's office suppressed exculpatory information known in March for nearly two months, claiming allowing the prosecutor to re-present the case "inadvertently rewards the United States Attorney's Office for an institutional cover-up."
- Judges stayed the dismissal order until Wednesday to allow Smith to contest it, though defense attorneys filed motions requesting permanent dismissals to deter future constitutional violations.
- Smith faces a Senate vote next week to confirm his nomination by Attorney General Pam Bondi, which has been marked by accusations regarding his attendance at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Darin Smith's Misconduct Endangered a Murder Prosecution; 46 Republicans Confirmed Him Anyway
Last Friday, three judges in Wyoming, including Chief Judge Kelly Rankin, dismissed felony cases against nine people because of misconduct from then Acting US Attorney Darin Smith. Those nine were: 26-cr-28: Michael Scott Harper, accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm 26-cr-30: Cheyenne Swett, accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm 26-cr-31: Richard Allen, accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm and an unre…
Judges Accuse Trump US Attorney Pick Of Misconduct
The Huffington Post reports: Senate Democrats are making a last-ditch push to torpedo the nomination of Darin Smith, President Donald Trump’s U.S. attorney pick for Wyoming, after federal judges on Friday tossed charges against nine criminal defendants over Smith’s “deeply concerning” misconduct as acting U.S. attorney. Three U.S. district judges in Wyoming dismissed nine cases before them after learning Smith told a grand jury that all of the c…
Judges blow up 9 cases brought by Trump DOJ pick ahead of confirmation vote
President Donald Trump's pick to be the top federal prosecutor in Wyoming committed grand jury misconduct that voids charges against several criminal defendants, a federal judge ruled on Monday — just hours before that prosecutor is set to face a confirmation vote in the Senate to serve in that role...
Associated Press News
Judges toss charges against 9 over US Attorney Darin Smith’s ‘deeply concerning’ misconduct
Three federal judges dismissed felony grand jury indictments against nine defendants Friday, citing misconduct by interim U.S.
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