by Jessica Taloney
Published: Mon, April 06, 2009 - 12:33 pm CST
Last Updated: Wed, April 08, 2009 - 4:56 pm CST
Wednesday 11:15amAs of late Wednesday morning, documents in the Steve Giardini investigation remain sealed at the federal courthouse in Mobile.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William Cassady's office would not comment on why the file is sealed.
District Attorney John Tyson and officials with the FBI have referred all questions to the U.S. Attorneys office, but a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office refuses to acknowledge their involvement in the investigation.
An affidavit revealing what investigators were looking for when they searched Giardini's home last weekend and a list of what was found are among the documents sealed in federal court.
Tuesday 3:40pm
U.S. Magistrate Judge William Cassady has decided not to unseal documents in the Steve Giardini investigation today.
The decision was made late this afternoon.
According to Cassady office, the documents could eventually be unsealed, but there is no word on when that will happen.
Tuesday 2:30pm
U.S. Magistrate Judge William Cassady may unseal documents in the Steve Giardini investigation as early as this afternoon.
According to Cassady office, the federal judge will talk with the U.S. Attorney's office to discuss whether sealing the documents is appropriate.
Tuesday 11:40am
The FBI has filed the return on a search warrant executed at the home of a top prosecutor in the Mobile County district attorney's office.
According to an FBI spokesperson, the document was filed this morning in federal court, though it has not yet been made public.
Steve Giardini resigned from the DA's office Sunday
Monday 4:18pm
The Executive Director of Mobile's Child Advocacy Center says he was surprised to hear about Giardini's resignation this morning.
Pat Guyton tells News 5's Steve Alexander that Giardini's resignation will not affect pending cases involving the agency.
Guyton says District Attorney John Tyson will appoint another Assistant District Attorney to handle cases involving the Child Advocacy Center.
Monday 1:33pm
The Assistant District Attorney leading the prosecution of former Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas has abruptly resigned.
Steve Giardini resigned Sunday afternoon after "declining to answer questions," according to District Attorney John Tyson, though he would not say what the questions were regarding.
Tyson says he was contacted by FBI investigators Saturday, who told him they were going to execute a search warrant at Giardini's home.
Dennis Knizley, a prominent Mobile defense attorney, confirmed he has been hired to represent Giardini. Knizley also confirmed Giardini's home was searched by federal investigators, and said he has advised his client not to talk.
"If someone executes a federal search warrant at my client's house, I'm going to tell them everytime not to speak to anyone and Steve has followed my advise," said Knizley.
When asked if the investigation has anything to do with a crime against a child, Knizley said Giardini has not "touched any child, he has not seen, met with or solicited any child."
Giardini has worked in the Mobile district attorney's office for more than 15 years, according to Tyson. He specialized in sexual abuse cases involving the Child Advocacy Center. Last week, he was assigned to the Thomas case, after the former judge was indicted on 57 counts of kidnapping, sodomy, extortion and ethics violations.
Tyson insists Giardini's resignation has nothing to do with the Thomas case, and he says it will not affect the prosecution. "I am and always have been the lead prosecutor in every case," says Tyson.
NAACP: John Tyson Should Resign
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