Changes

[[Criminal]] cases are, of course, viewed as necessary to punish wrongdoing and deter [[crime]].  This is certainly true in [[state]] [[court]], where crimes like [[murder]] are [[prosecute]]d.  In [[federal]] [[court]] it is less clear.  Since 9/11, we have been told that federal agents are looking for and catching terrorists.  Yet not a single person has been convicted of any [[crime]] in connection with [[9/11]].   

[[Criminal]] cases are, of course, viewed as necessary to punish wrongdoing and deter [[crime]].  This is certainly true in [[state]] [[court]], where crimes like [[murder]] are [[prosecute]]d.  In [[federal]] [[court]] it is less clear.  Since 9/11, we have been told that federal agents are looking for and catching terrorists.  Yet not a single person has been convicted of any [[crime]] in connection with [[9/11]].   

In fact, a federal judge recently ruled against the [[government]] in its prosecution of the alleged 20th terrorist, [[Zacarias Moussaoui]].  He says he is a member of al-Qaeda but knew nothing about the [[attack]]s.  He seeks to prove his innocence by having his attorney question several key al-Qaeda prisoners.  When the [[government]] refused to allow this, the [[judge]] recently decided that he cannot be prosecuted for being involved in [[9/11]].

In fact, a federal judge recently ruled against the [[government]] in its prosecution of the alleged 20th terrorist, [[Zacarias Moussaoui]].  He says he is a member of al-Qaeda but knew nothing about the attacks.  He seeks to prove his innocence by having his attorney question several key al-Qaeda prisoners.  When the [[government]] refused to allow this, the [[judge]] recently decided that he cannot be prosecuted for being involved in [[9/11]].

The [[government]] is not prosecuting any other citizens for the [[9/11]] attack itself.  Instead, the vast majority of federal prosecutions concern [[immigration]] and [[drugs]].  High publicity cases include the [[prosecution]] of executives like [[Martha Stewart]].  Sometimes [[congress]]men are prosecuted, like the former Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, [[Dan Rostenkowski]].  He was convicted but [[President]] [[Clinton]] later pardoned him.

The [[government]] is not prosecuting any other citizens for the [[9/11]] attack itself.  Instead, the vast majority of federal prosecutions concern [[immigration]] and [[drugs]].  High publicity cases include the [[prosecution]] of executives like [[Martha Stewart]].  Sometimes [[congress]]men are prosecuted, like the former Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, [[Dan Rostenkowski]].  He was convicted but [[President]] [[Clinton]] later pardoned him.