by The Associated Press
Thursday, March 11, 2010
WASHINGTON -- The section of the Justice Department that investigates corruption of public officials is getting new leadership.
The selection of a new chief and deputy to run the department's public integrity unit takes place amid an investigation of the unit's handling of the trial of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. That probe focuses on the government withholding evidence from lawyers for Stevens.
Career prosecutor Jack Smith has accepted the job of running the office and prosecutor Ray Hulser will be Smith's principal deputy.
Stevens served 40 years in the Senate but lost his re-election bid days after being convicted on corruption charges. The guilty verdict was dismissed after the Justice Department acknowledged it had improperly withheld evidence.
