Nightline Looks at Corruption at Justice

By Scott Horton

The Department of Justice remains solidly in the running to be Washington’s single most corrupt institution–quite a departure from its glory days, when it was widely seen as Washington’s Mr. Clean. While headlines are occupied by the U.S. Attorneys scandal, by political prosecutions (with Karl Rove smiling in the background), and by voting rights shenanigans, there are plenty of other vile scandals occupying other corridors of this once noble institution. Back on April 1, I wrote a piece entitled “More Corruption at Mukasey’s Justice Department” in which I looked at some exceedingly sleazy dealings in the Office of Juvenile Justice. ABC News Nightline, with some help from Murray Waas, has burrowed much more deeply into the issues I discussed. What they turn up in tonight’s show is hardly a surprise, but still stomach-turning. It’s worth watching in order to get yet another glimpse into what Justice has become in the age of Bush.

Update: For those who missed the broadcast last night, the video is now available.