US Attorney Who Got Ranchers More Jail Time Was Investigated For ‘Erratic Behavior’

The U.S. attorney who pushed for incarcerating two Oregon ranchers was under investigation for stalking one of her employees when she resigned from office in April, allegedly for “health issues.” Amanda Marshall, the U.S. attorney for Oregon, pushed for ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond to be put back in prison after they were convicted of arson in 2012 and served time under an expansive anti-terrorism law. Marshall, however, was the subject of a federal investigation into her “erratic behavior” regarding one of her colleagues. Sources told The Oregonian in March the Department of Justice (DOJ) inspector general was looking into Marshall’s “erratic behavior involving a subordinate.” Sources said Marshall constantly texted and emailed Scott Kerin, an assistant U.S. Attorney. The Oregonian reported Marshall even admonished Kerin “for spending too much time with a woman who was not his wife.” Marshall went on indefinite leave as news of the investigation broke, but didn’t formally resign from office until May 15, 2015. The Oregonian reported Marshall left because health issues were affecting her work, but reports of a federal probe into her behavior may have played a role.  Marshall’s lawyer tried to claim Kerin was in fact the subject of the inspector general’s probe, but the IG’s office, in a rare move, put out a statement rebutting Marshall’s attorney — though the IG did not confirm or deny the existence of a probe. It’s unclear if Marshall’s erratic behavior had any effect on the Hammonds’ prosecution, but it will likely raise questions about the rare decision by federal prosecutors to push for Dwight and Steven to be reincarcerated...more