Further Follies at Justice

The Washington Post carries a story quoting Sharon Eubanks, the leader of the Justice Department team prosecuting a lawsuit against big tobacco, as saying that political pressure forced her to soften her case and ultimately lowered penalties from $130 billion to $10 billion.

The most stressful moment, Eubanks said, came when the three appointees ordered her to read word for word a closing argument they had rewritten. The statement explained the validity of seeking a $10 billion penalty.

"I couldn't even look at the judge," she said.

It's sad when campaign contributions affect how laws are written, but it's unconscionable when they affect how laws are applied.