U.S. Prosecutor’s Trial Comments Get Contempt Conviction Nixed

An assistant U.S. attorney’s improper remark that a criminal contempt defendant’s silence meant willful defiance of a court order and other improper comments requires vacating his conviction, the Fifth Circuit said.

Eastern District of Louisiana AUA Michael McMahon’s behavior fell short of the ethical standards required to protect the integrity of the justice system, the Monday opinion by Judge Andrew S. Oldham of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said.

Thaddeus Beaulieu was offered immunity to testify against his friends in their carjacking and bank robbery trial. When he got on the stand, however, he remained silent ...