It's a best-case scenario for a criminal defense lawyer—the end of a lengthy criminal investigation with no charges. In every criminal case, from the beginning, there's always a catching up period and decision-making about the scope and direction of a parallel investigation, says McDermott Will & Emery partner Abbe Lowell. "Guiding a client through this is what we are hired to do," Lowell says.
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons brought on Lowell during the course of an 18-month public corruption investigation that ended this month without an indictment. Gibbons cooperated with the investigation, granting an interview with investigators, Lowell says. Gibbons denied any wrongdoing. "Gov. Gibbons is grateful the department vindicated what he has been saying for two years," Lowell says. "It's been a long time, and it's nice to have the clouds part for awhile.”
Justice Department prosecutor Steven Durham, chief of the fraud and public corruption division, was looking into allegations of wrongdoing by various people and businesses in Nevada. Gibbons, a Republican, was targeted for reportedly accepting gifts, while he was in Congress, from a software company that received military contracts.
Lowell said in a statement: “Now, it should be crystal clear that the only persons who should be investigated or charged are those who made false allegations of wrongdoing and who tried to fuel this investigation for their own private purposes." Gibbons said he has incurred about $200,000 in legal fees and has sought contributions to help cover the cost, the Associated Press reported.
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