Federal judge recesses Moussaoui case after attorney misconduct revealed

The federa judge in the Moussaoui case abruptly recessed the penalty phase today after learning that an attorney for the government coached a witness for the penalty phase of the trial. Moussaoui already had pleaded guilty to the charges alleged by the government. The attorney apparently revealed a transcript of the trial to a witness for the government in preparartion for the penalty phase. The judge had already warned the government that their conduct was inappropriate. The judge may rule the testimony of the witness inadmissable. The defense now wants the death penalty to be dropped.