Pocono News Section

U.S. Attorney at Center of Corruption Probe Steps Down

U.S. Attorney at Center of Corruption Probe Steps Down - Monday, August 10, 2009 at 11:40PM EST

Reported by: Eyewitness News
Monday, Aug 10, 2009 @ 11:40pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- In the midst of what's been called the nation's worst judicial scandal, the area's top federal prosecutor is gone.

Martin Carlson's resignation is a mystery. Up until Saturday, Carlson was heading the U. S. Attorney's Office here as it meandered through a historic corruption investigation. But suddenly the veteran federal prosecutor bowed out.

Carlson's departure is a big mystery. The U. S. Attorney's Office clued the media in Monday. The 3-page news release mentions Carlson's replacement, but leaves us hanging otherwise.

ÒIt's like taking the captain off the bridge midway heading towards the Titanic and the iceberg,Ó said Dr. Jim Sysko.

Sysko, a professor of Law and Business Ethics at KingÕs College, calls Carlson's resignation "unusual."

ÒFor him to leave the scene so abruptly, you know, under such unusual circumstances, arouses suspicion that something went wrong somewhere,Ó he said.

Two weeks ago, a federal judge shot holes through ex-judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella's plea deals. Those deals were made with Carlson's office.

Now, the ex-judges have to try and either broker new deals with the U. S. AttorneyÕs office, or head to trial.

The calls on CarlsonÕs departure came rolling in. WILK News Radio talk show host Steve Corbett talked about his success.

ÒWhat we can look to are the results of the probe. We can see the arrests, we can see the charges, we can see the guilty pleas. Every indication I have is they were in the market to be crime fighters,Ó he said.

With Carlson, gone, a lot of work is left behind. Plea deals, charges, criminal school board members.

ÒAnd there's no explanation why he left. WeÕve got countless unanswered questions as to why he took off and what's going to happen now,Ó said Corbett.

Dennis Phannenscmidt will take over in an interim capacity. He's been with the justice department for 21 years.

But there are still concerns. ÒMy concern is the momentum will be lost, that Martin Carlson was the leader,Ó added Corbett.