Bump for Ozmo and Agnostic
From ChatGPT
:
Prompt: Who decides when federal investigators have enough evidence to pursue criminal charges?
The decision on whether federal investigators have enough evidence to pursue criminal charges is made by federal prosecutors, also known as United States Attorneys or Assistant United States Attorneys. Federal prosecutors are lawyers who work for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and are responsible for representing the United States in federal criminal cases.
Federal investigators, such as agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and other federal agencies, conduct the investigation and gather evidence related to the alleged federal crime. Once they believe they have sufficient evidence, they present their findings to federal prosecutors.
The federal prosecutors review the evidence, evaluate its strength, and assess whether it meets the legal standard required for criminal charges. The primary standard for charging someone with a crime in the federal system is whether there is enough evidence to establish "probable cause" that the suspect committed the offense. Probable cause means that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the person likely committed the crime.
If the federal prosecutors determine that the evidence is sufficient and meets the required standard, they may choose to file charges against the suspect. They will then present the case to a grand jury or, in some cases, initiate criminal proceedings through a criminal complaint or information.
Ultimately, it is the federal prosecutors who have the authority and discretion to decide whether to pursue criminal charges based on the evidence presented by the federal investigators. Their decision-making process involves assessing the strength of the evidence, the potential legal theories, the likelihood of obtaining a conviction, and considerations of justice and the public interest.
