Prosecutors are not that interested in morality or ethics or general misbehavior. They ask themselves and their assistant prosecutors these questions: What laws have been broken? What are the chances we can get a conviction? Before they even present evidence to a grand jury, with the intention of indicting an individual, they assess their risks: Will the grand jury agree to vote for indictment? Will a jury convict? Will the judge give a sentence worth the trouble of bringing the case in the first place?
U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen is weighing these risks and rewards right now when it comes to the three cases that concern our D.C. politicians. Machen has said he’s investigating cases that involve Mayor Vincent Gray, City Council Chairman Kwame Brown, and Ward 5 Council Member Harry Thomas Jr.
