A federal judge on Monday dismissed charges against a Russian company accused of funding the Kremlin's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election, after federal prosecutors said the company has flaunted court rules and made the prosecution more trouble than it is worth.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich came hours after the Justice Department asked to drop the charges against Concord Management and Consulting.
"There is a substantial federal interest in defending American democratic institutions, exposing those who endeavor to criminally interfere with them, and holding them accountable, which is why this prosecution was properly commenced in the first place," the government said in a 9-page motion filed Monday. "In light of the defendant's conduct, however, its ephemeral presence and immunity to just punishment, the risk of exposure of law enforcement's tools and techniques and the post-indictment change in the proof available at trial, the balance of equities has shifted."
Part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, a grand jury in February 2018 indicted Concord Management and Consulting, as well as 13 Russian nationals and two other companies in connection with Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential elections using social media troll farms and influence campaigns.
Concord Management was the only alleged conspirator to enter an appearance in court and vigorously contested the charges over the ensuing two years.
But prosecutors say Concord Management has never really participated in the prosecution, instead using court proceedings to collect information about how the U.S. government responds to and monitors efforts from foreign countries to interfere in its elections.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2020, @10:03PM (4 children)
WAAAAAAHHHH! People don't like my internet post.
Nah, it's democrats saying, WAAAHH! you hurt my feels!
Then they try to filter out the post for everybody.
Downmodders are the whiny little bitches. We need to publicly shame them more.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday March 18 2020, @10:48AM (3 children)
You're not even starting to do that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 18 2020, @04:47PM (2 children)
That's right The little psychos are loving the attention, so they'll probably do it more. I don't mind. The visiting aliens can see right through them.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 19 2020, @12:26AM (1 child)
Guess I'll be the one to let you know, you're the one coming off as a little psycho right now.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 19 2020, @10:59PM
Yeah well, at least I'm not a democrat! So there's still hope...