Blood on the Courthouse Floor-Six U.S. Attorneys Fired. Why?

[babylonsister]

And it's not the first time with this admin; read on.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/01/court.html

Blood on the Courthouse Floor

Six U.S. Attorneys Fired. Why?

By Scott Lilly

January 19, 2007

Frederick Black had served for more than a decade as acting U.S. Attorney to the territory of Guam, having been appointed by President George H. W. Bush in 1991. In 2002 he was directing a long-term investigation into allegations of public corruption in the administration of Gov. Carl Gutierrez—a probe that had already produced numerous indictments of Guitierrez’ cronies. But a day after a Guam grand jury issued a subpoena demanding records from the Guam Superior Court that documented payments to Republican lobbyist extraordinaire Jack Abramoff, Black was relieved of his position.

In an article headlined, “Bush Removal Ended Guam Investigation,” The Los Angeles times reported that “a U.S. grand jury in Guam opened an investigation of controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff more than two years ago, but President Bush removed the supervising federal prosecutor, and the probe ended soon after.” With at least six prominent federal prosecutors recently removed from office, many of them managing large scale public corruption cases, many are wondering if history is not repeating itself.

Among those fired were Carol Lam, the U.S. Attorney for San Diego, who last year won a conviction against Congressman Duke Cunningham (R-CA) in the biggest bribery conviction in history, and Paul Charlton of Arizona, whose office is investigating charges involving land deals and influence peddling against of Republican Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ).

Also stepping down is the U.S. Attorney for Nevada, Daniel Bogden, whose office last year won corruption convictions against two Clark County, Nevada Commissioners and may be looking into campaign law violations by at least one member of the state’s Congressional delegation. Next door in New Mexico, David Iglesia is being asked to leave after winning convictions in the past year of two former New Mexico State Treasurers.

Then there’s northern California’s U.S. Attorney, Kevin Ryan, who has not made his mark by ferreting out wrongdoing by public officials but is certain to have stepped on the toes of a number of their most generous contributors with his high profile investigations of back-dated stock options given to numerous executives in major corporations. He has also announced that he is leaving his job.

What does U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have to say about all of these departures? He told the Senate Judiciary Committee this week:

more...

[AndyA]

1. Congress needs to take a long, hard look at Alberto Gonzalez.

I think he's as corrupt as can be. First, his statement regarding habeus corpus, now this. He is Bush's puppet, he is not protecting the interests of the people of the United States of America.

[babylonsister]

2. I am in total agreement; the guy reminds me of a snake oil salesman

with that snarky, condescending attitude. I hope Leahy et al. don't let up on him and demand he delivers on what they asked for.

[brer cat]

10. He wouldn't know the truth if it slept in his bed.

He and crashcart need to be the first to go.

[Mist]

3. Gonzales needs to be pressed hard--he's one of the biggest enablers

of this criminal administration. Gods, I hate the scabrous little shit-weasel.

[msongs]

4. because NOBODY will stop him, just as NOBODY has stopped him for 6 years? nt

[kestrel91316]

5. Why? Insufficient enthusiasm for Christofascism.

[enough]

6. k&r

[tanyev]

7. K & R

[Hissyspit]

8. This administration is f'in' Tammany Hall all over again. Americans should be ashamed

for letting people like this take over the government - for TWO administrations!

[Canuckistanian]

9. Gonzales is responsible - no question.

Due to that little-known clause in the Patriot Act II.

[Pachamama]

11. I don't know why, but I want to know why....I have a bad feeling about why they were fired and what

BushCo. is planning and why these people needed to be "replaced".

Insurance for the future? Something biggger? :shrug:

[Morgana LaFey]

12. This MUST not be allowed to stand.

That portion of the Patriot Act (hell, probably all of the Patriot Act) needs to be repealed ASAP, and somehow Congress needs to get those folks back in their jobs.

[Octafish]

13. Alberto Gonzales is following John Mitchell's career path...

...let's hope he ends up the second* U.S. Attorney General to spend time behind bars.

* Not that John Ashcroft, Ed Meese, Dick Thornburgh and a bunch of others didn't deserve it.

[Larry Allen]

14. The Patriot Act must go.

How quickly can congress act? How many weeks would it take for Bush to sweep through the justice department, replacing professionals with his own hacks? The democratically controlled congress probably had in mind cleaning up the Patriot Act piece by piece. But it is such a can of worms that it might be better to repeal the whole thing. This also speaks to the folly of taking impeachment off the table.