April 24, 2000
Letters to the Editor
Chicago Sun-Times
401 N. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60611
Dear Editor:
The Office of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois represents not only the U.S. Government but also equally all of the Citizens of the Northern District of Illinois.
As such, the duty of the office is not only to the U.S. Government but also to all of the Citizens of the Northern District of Illinois. His job is to see that each and every party receives all of his rights granted him under the U.S. Constitution.
Recently the U.S. Attorney, Scott Lassar, let down both the U.S. Government and one of its citizens. In the recent prosecution of Miriam Santos, he made a lame excuse that he did not contest Santos's motion to delay her trial until her attorney of choice was available. He had a duty to do more; he had a duty to see that Ms. Santos had a fair trial. He also had the duty to bring to the attention of the court the "avalanche of errors" that the court was engaged in. The Seventh Circuit corrected these mistakes; the Court overturned the unlawful conviction of Ms. Santos.
We frequently hear of the misconduct of federal prosecutors throughout the United States. U.S. Attorney Scott Lassar has joined the list of federal prosecutors who have not properly performed their duty.
Mr. Lassar has brought disrepute to the office of the U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Illinois by not protecting the Constitutional Rights of all of the Citizens of the Northern District of Illinois.
Yours truly,
Citizens for Legal Responsibility
Eugene Alpern
Director
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