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Government Lawyer Uses US Marshals as Chauffeurs to Sports Events

Joseph Band, who was a lawyer in the US Marshals Service’s Office of the General Counsel, enlisted deputy marshals to ferry him and others, including famous broadcasters, to and from sporting events in government vehicles, according to a report released today by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine.

Band allegedly attended a variety of sporting events, such as the 2007 World Series in Boston, the 2007 college football championship game and the 2008 Super Bowl, both in Phoenix, and a 2008 NFL playoff game in Tampa, acting as a Fox Sports statistician. Broadcasters Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, and Troy Aikman accepted the rides in government vehicles.

The report concludes that Band, who was a member of the USMS ethics team, violated the service’s policy and standards of ethical conduct. But the US attorney’s offices in Boston and the Eastern District of Virginia declined criminal prosecution. A spokeswoman for the USMS says Band has resigned, though she did not say when.

Band, who has worked part-time as a statistician for the Washington Redskins for about 30 years, has also done work for various networks besides Fox, including ESPN and CBS.

Band’s lawyer, Jacob Stein of Stein, Mitchell & Muse, said his client had no “control, knowledge or decision making discretion with respect to the use of any government vehicle or government personnel.”

Via BLT.

Erik Even: