ThePublic Integrity Section (PIN) is a section of theCriminal Division of theU.S. Department of Justice charged with combatingpolitical corruption at all levels of government through theprosecution of corrupt federal, state, and local elected andappointed public officials.[1]
The Public Integrity Section holds exclusivejurisdiction over prosecution of alleged criminal misconduct byfederal judges, monitors the investigation and prosecution of election andconflict of interest crimes. It consolidates into one unit the U.S. Department of Justice's oversight responsibilities for prosecuting criminal abuses of the public trust by elected and appointed government officials. In addition to prosecuting cases, PIN also advises and assists prosecutors and agents in the field in handling public corruption cases.
PIN has about 30 prosecutors who "travel the country to help localUnited States attorney's offices develop complex and often politically contentious corruption cases".[2]
The Public Integrity Section was created in March 1976 in the wake of theWatergate scandal. Since 1978, it has supervised administration of theIndependent Counsel provisions of theEthics in Government Act of 1978, which requires theAttorney General to report to theUnited States Congress annually on the operations and activities of the Public Integrity Section.[1] Annual reports to Congress since 1978 are available on the PIN's website.[3] PIN's Election Crimes Branch was created in 1980 and supervises the U.S. Department of Justice's nationwide response tovoter fraud,campaign financing offenses, and other election crimes.[4]
PIN was originally known for its "elite reputation", but it has fallen under disrepute since its decision to prosecuteSenatorTed Stevens (R–Alaska) for failing to disclose gifts. Though he was convicted in 2008 and lost his bid for re-election, in 2009Attorney GeneralEric Holder threw out the case after it emerged that PIN prosecutors "failed to turn over evidence that could have helped Mr. Stevens win acquittal".[5]
After this blow to its reputation, it was criticized for "being gun-shy" because it had closed out without pressing charges a "series of long-running investigations into current or former members of Congress," including SenatorJohn Ensign of Nevada and RepresentativesTom DeLay of Texas,Jerry Lewis of California,Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, andDon Young of Alaska.[2]
