Editing Ted Stevens (section)

===Government concealment of evidence===
In February 2009, FBI agent Chad Joy filed a whistleblower affidavit, alleging that prosecutors and FBI agents conspired to withhold and conceal evidence that could have resulted in acquittal.<ref>The Criminal Lawyer [http://burneylawfirm.com/blog/2009/02/11/more-allegations-of-prosecutorial-misconduct-in-sen-ted-stevens-case/ "More Allegations of Prosecutorial Misconduct in Sen Ted Stevens Case"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501190215/http://burneylawfirm.com/blog/2009/02/11/more-allegations-of-prosecutorial-misconduct-in-sen-ted-stevens-case/ |date=May 1, 2016 }}</ref> In his affidavit, Joy alleged that prosecutors intentionally sent a key witness, former VECO employee Robert Burnette "Rocky" Williams, who had testified before a [[grand jury]] in 2006, back home to Alaska.<ref name=UPI/> Williams had performed poorly during a mock cross-examination.<ref name=NYT>{{Cite news|last=Lewis|first=Neil A.|date=2009-02-11|title=Agent Claims Evidence on Stevens Was Concealed (Published 2009)|language=en-US|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/politics/11stevens.html|access-date=2020-12-01|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041718/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/politics/11stevens.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The prosecution informed Judge Sullivan that it had concerns regarding the health of the witness. Williams was terminally ill,<ref name=NYT/> experiencing liver failure, which causes confusion.<ref>[https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326919 What to know about hepatic encephalopathy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010113155/https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326919 |date=October 10, 2020 }}, ''[[Medical News Today]]''. Retrieved September 13, 2020.</ref><ref name=UPI>[https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/01/Rocky-Williams-Stevens-case-witness-dies/95861230831328/ Rocky Williams, Stevens case witness, dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010122612/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/01/Rocky-Williams-Stevens-case-witness-dies/95861230831328/ |date=October 10, 2020 }}, ''[[UPI]]'', January 1, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2020.</ref> He died on December 30, 2008.<ref name=NYT/> Joy further alleged that the prosecutors intentionally withheld ''[[Brady v. Maryland|Brady]]'' [[Brady material|material]] including redacted prior statements of a witness, and a memo from Bill Allen stating that Senator Stevens probably would have paid for the goods and services if asked. Joy further inferred that a female FBI agent had an inappropriate relationship with Allen, who also gave gifts to FBI agents and helped one agent's relative get a job.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ted Stevens – National Registry of Exonerations |url=https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3663 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.law.umich.edu |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412173851/https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3663 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As a result of Joy's affidavit and claims by the defense that prosecutorial misconduct had caused an unfair trial, Judge Sullivan ordered a hearing to be held on February 13, 2009, to determine whether a new trial should be ordered.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Judge Holds Prosecutors in Contempt in Stevens Case|url=https://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/02/judge-holds-prosecutors-in-contempt-in-stevens-case.html|access-date=2020-12-01|website=The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226075144/https://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/02/judge-holds-prosecutors-in-contempt-in-stevens-case.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the February 13 hearing, Judge Sullivan held the prosecutors in contempt for having failed to deliver documents to Stevens's legal counsel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021303092.html|title=Justice Dept. Lawyers in Contempt for Withholding Stevens Documents|newspaper=Washington Post|first=Nedra|last=Pickler|date=2009-02-14|access-date=2010-05-25|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018033951/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021303092.html|url-status=live}}</ref>