Vol. 2, No. 4
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Dec. 15, 2004
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CRIMINAL DEFENSE |
COPYWRITING
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Augustine impeachment trial:
Decision of the Attorney General not to prosecute Augustine
______________________________________________
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Nevada Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: October 6, 2004
NDOJ PREPARES FOR IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING
Carson City—Attorney General Brian Sandoval today announced that criminal charges will not be pursued against State Controller Kathy Augustine.
"The Governor has indicated that he will call a special session of the legislature for the second week of November to commence the process of impeachment of Controller Augustine," said Sandoval. "Simply put, this is the most appropriate forum for justice in this matter: it's the most expedient, it's the most powerful, and, because this is an elected position and her violations occurred within the sphere of her office, an impeachment proceeding will serve the ends of justice and the people of Nevada. We are therefore directing our attention instead to preparations for impeachment."
Gerald Gardner, Chief of the Attorney General's Criminal Justice Division, stated: "We evaluate each criminal case on its own merits, and having conducted the original investigation, having filed the original ethics complaint, and after reviewing the recently released transcript of the closed hearing at the Ethics Commission, we have determined that the impeachment process is the best means to achieve justice for the people of Nevada."
Sandoval emphasized also that an impeachment proceeding was developed for exactly these type of circumstances. "Ms. Augustine will have the opportunity for due process before the State Assembly and perhaps the State Senate. It is there that she will have her opportunity to present her case and be heard by the newly elected legislators of the state."