DOJ Lawyer With a Rove Connection Commits Suicide

Nicholas Marsh

One of six federal lawyers involved in the botched prosecution of former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) has committed suicide.

Nicholas A. Marsh and other federal prosecutors in the Stevens case were under investigation for possible criminal misconduct. A report by a special prosecutor in the case is expected in a few weeks.

Marsh's death was announced by a spokesperson for his lawyer, Robert Luskin of Washington, D.C. Luskin represented former White House strategist Karl Rove during inquiries about Rove's role in possible political prosecutions during the George W. Bush administration.

Two of the best known such prosecutions took place in the Deep South--the Don Siegelman case in Alabama and the Paul Minor case in Mississippi. Our research indicates that Marsh did not take part in either the Siegelman or Minor cases. But he was part of the U.S. Public Integrity Section, which was heavily involved in both cases.

Reporting on Marsh's death has been curious, to say the least. He apparently died over the weekend, but the story broke today. NPR, TPM Muckraker, The Washington Post, and mainjustice.com all are calling it a suicide. But we have yet to see a quote from anyone in law enforcement, anyone with a background as a medical examiner, confirm that Marsh killed himself.

Where is the suicide angle coming from? Why, from the office of Robert Luskin, who happens to be Karl Rove's lawyer.

For those who consider Karl Rove one of the most evil humans on the planet, Marsh's death poses numerous intriguing questions. Is it possible that Marsh, in preparing his own defense, revealed damaging information about Rove to Luskin? Is it possible that Luskin passed that word along to Rove? Is it possible that such an information trail contributed to Marsh's unfortunate demise?