8legs: Darin smith

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#1 out of 2

crime1d ago

Three federal judges dismissed felony grand jury indictments against nine defendants due to misconduct by interim U.S. Attorney Darin Smith.
The misconduct began with Smith's initial remarks to the grand jury and continued in private breaks, potentially affecting impartiality.
The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning Smith could refile cases with a clean slate if the government proceeds again.
Defense attorneys asked the judges to transfer cases to Washington, D.C., or a different U.S. Attorney's Office due to conflicts of interest.
The judges warned of a 'grave doubt' that the indictments were free from influence due to Smith's conduct.
The article notes Smith attended the January 6 Capitol riot, which has fueled additional scrutiny of his nomination.
Defendants argued the misconduct could amount to an institutional cover-up requiring disciplinary action.
Prosecutors defended Smith's actions but were still faced with significant questions about grand jury integrity.
The order allows the stay to continue until Wednesday or until Smith declines to contest it.
The cases could be refiled if a new grand jury is empaneled under a clean slate, the order states.

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#2 out of 2

Senate Republicans approved a large package of Trump-era U.S. attorney nominees, including three with no prosecutorial experience, by a 46-43 vote.
Darin Smith (Wyoming) and Phillip Williams (Northern District of Alabama) were described as lacking trial experience in both federal and state courts.
Dan Bishop, a former congressman, has a reputation as an election denier and was considered for a role to help search for evidence related to Trump’s 2024 election claims.
The term 'chillingly unqualified' was used by observers to describe the trio of nominees.
The article notes a broader DOJ recruitment problem as qualified lawyers pursue other opportunities amid perceived politicization.
The confirmation came despite critical remarks from Democratic lawmakers about the nominees’ qualifications.
The package included 49 nominees, with eleven senators missing the vote.
The nominees include Darin Smith, Phillip Williams, and Dan Bishop, who face questions about their prosecutorial backgrounds.
Analysts cited in the piece note the nominees’ potential role in pursuing politically charged cases.
The report references external critics, including Jeffrey Toobin and Senator Richard Blumenthal, on the inappropriateness of the slate.

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