Justice Dept. Drops Charges Against Sen. Ted Stevens

Remember Ted Stevens the long time senator, first elected in 1968 from Alaska?

He was charged by Bush Justice Department and convicted by jury on October 2008 for lying about home renovations and gifts received from oil interests. And despite the cloud hanging over his head he went ahead in the Novemebr elections, which he lost by less than 1 percentage point.

According to BBC, "Prosecutors made a number of errors during the trial, officials said, the chief among which was the failure to make available notes of a crucial interview in which a witness made a statement that contradicted evidence he gave later under oath. "

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan is considering charging the prosecution.

In his farewell speech Ted Stevens had uttered hope that the dark clouds would lift. He said today, "I am grateful that the new team of responsible prosecutors at the Department of Justice has acknowledged that I did not receive a fair trial and has dismissed all the charges against me. ... It is unfortunate that an election was affected by proceedings now recognized as unfair."

While the dark clouds will whiter away over his reputation, it is toolate to affect the loss.

This is also a hopeful sign that Obama Administration is pursuing a fairness policy and not indulgin in Bush Administrations witch hunts.