The Bush administration’s first major post-Sept. 11 prosecution, which broke up a terrorist cell in Detroit, is in danger of unraveling after the Justice Department divulged it had failed to turn over evidence that might have helped the defense. The evidence includes a letter from an imprisoned drug gang leader who alleges the government’s key witness confided he made up some of his story. The December 2001 letter, which could have been used by defense lawyers to challenge the prosecution witness during the trial this spring, wasn’t turned over until a couple of weeks ago. The defendants are now asking that their convictions be overturned, and the judge has scheduled an emergency hearing Friday to demand an explanation from the government. “It has come to the attention of the court that the government has recently provided defendants with certain material that was not provided to defendants either prior to or during trial of this matter,” U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen said in ordering the hearing. Full Story
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