What
a shame the administration of President George W. Bush isn't as tough on
terrorism as it is about exacting revenge upon honest citizens who speak out
against its policies.
Take the witch-hunt against my
husband, former U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino, who
successfully prosecuted a Detroit terrorism sleeper cell. He then voiced his frustrations
with the ineffectiveness of the U.S. Justice Department's handling of terrorism
cases and has endured almost three years of retaliation at a cost to American
taxpayers of several million dollars.
The "mean machine" is
out of control and refuses to admit it, especially when there is a
whistleblower lawsuit still pending that Rick filed against members of the
Justice Department, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft. Regardless
of his years as a star prosecutor with the Justice Department, the government
has subpoenaed Rick's high school, college and law school records.
What's next? Will they subpoena a
list of books he has checked out from the library or the movies we rent for
family movie night?
The government refuses to issue
subpoenas to look into the billions of dollars that are unaccounted for in the Iraq war, but it will subpoena Rick's high school records.
Apparently, you can steal from the government but you can't speak out against
its policies.
Distinguished career diplomat Joe
Wilson would agree with that assessment since his wife was "outed" as a CIA operative after he publicly disagreed
with the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Due to the government's ability
to extend indefinitely the claim of an "ongoing investigation," the
DOJ has successfully blocked Rick's lawsuit as well as the investigation
conducted by the Office of Special Council. The final step -- I hope -- is the
current grand jury investigation that led to Wednesday's indictment.
Most people don't realize that
during grand jury proceedings the prosecutor gets to present one-sided
information and opinions with no obligation to present any information that may
exonerate the person under investigation. With such power, it would be
unethical and malicious to use the grand jury system to indict someone just to
destroy his reputation.
Knowing Rick as I have for more
than 27 years, his sense of honor would never have allowed him to remain silent
when there is incompetence or injustice, especially when the circumstances have
grave consequences for our entire country. I also know they are wasting time
and taxpayers' money that should be directed to fighting terrorism.
The Justice Department has
forgotten that Rick was the go-to guy when the department or the FBI had a
tough case. He would take it out of a sense of duty, even though it sometimes
meant being six months away from his young family; and his record of
outstanding evaluations, number of awards and commendation letters support all
of this. He has undergone at least three extensive background checks and had a
high-level security clearance when he left Justice. In addition to his cases,
Rick represented the United States at law enforcement seminars in Kazakhstan and Bulgaria.
Although Rick was subpoenaed to
testify in front of the U.S. Senate about his case, he was reluctant at that
time to discuss all of the difficulties and problems within the Justice
Department. However, Rick must air the Justice Department's dirty laundry to
protect himself.
I have to keep reminding myself
that it isn't our country that is persecuting us; it is the people who happen
to be in power right now, and that can change.
VALERIE CONVERTINO is a registered nurse who has been married to Rick Convertino for 19 years. Write to her in care of the Free
Press Editorial Page, 600 W. Fort St., Detroit 48226 or oped@freepress.com.