Quote:

NPR's Carrie Johnson has learned that lawyer Nick Marsh took his own life over the weekend.

Marsh was one of the lawyers who prosecuted former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens for corruption, a prosecution that failed amidst charges of misconduct. The Attorney General dropped that case, saying there were problems with sharing evidence with the defense.

The judge in the case appointed a special prosecutor to investigate whether the government had broken the law. Separately, the Justice department's Office of Professional Responsibility launched a probe of its own.

The investigation had been going on for more than a year and a report by the Special Prosecutor is expected in a few weeks. Marsh's lawyer, Bob Luskin, says he thought his client would not be charged. But apparently the strain of the investigation was just too much.

UPDATE AT 11:21 AM EDT:

Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division released this statement:

"Our deepest sympathies go out to Nick's family and friends on this sad day. The Department of Justice is a community, and today our community is mourning the loss of this dedicated young attorney."