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Young Prosecutors Took On A Vice President
- Tim Baker, Barney Skolnick, and Ron Liebman were three young federal prosecutors who uncovered Agnew's bribery scheme while Watergate raged.
- They pursued dozens of charges and built what they believed was an overwhelming case against Vice President Spiro Agnew.
Plea Deal Prioritized Constitutional Stability
- The Justice Department traded broad public exposure of Agnew's crimes for his immediate resignation and a minimal plea to avert a constitutional crisis.
- Leadership prioritized removing a sitting vice president over pursuing maximum criminal penalties to protect national stability.
Presidential Succession Drove Legal Strategy
- Attorney General Elliot Richardson feared a trial could result in Agnew becoming president mid-trial if Nixon left office.
- That risk shifted prosecutors from seeking prison time to seeking removal from office to prevent an unimaginable constitutional crisis.