Bix dot Blog

Because the public is listening to what’s going on, and I don’t think people like the fact that you got somebody at the top basically trying to dictate whether somebody should be prosecuted. I just think it’s a banana republic when we go down that road and we have those type of statements being made that are conceivably even if not influencing the ultimate decision, I think there are a lot of people on the outside who perceive that there is undo inappropriate pressure being brought to bear. And I just would hope that – it’s just, it’s very disturbing that we’re in the mess that we’re in in that regard. Because I think having been a part of the prosecution for a long time and respecting the role that prosecutors play in the system I just think the integrity of the process is being unduly undermined by inappropriate comments and actions on the part of people at the top of our government. I think it’s very unfortunate. And I think as a government and as a society we’re going to pay a price at some point for this.

—U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, in “TRANSCRIPT OF STATUS CONFERENCE BEFORE THE HONORABLE SENIOR JUDGE REGGIE B. WALTON UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE”