Prosecutor Who Unraveled Corruption in Boston Turns to C.I.A. Tape Case

[Hissyspit]

Source: New York Times

Prosecutor Who Unraveled Corruption in Boston Turns to C.I.A. Tape Case

By NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: January 13, 2008
WASHINGTON — In 1999, John H. Durham, a federal prosecutor based in Connecticut, was assigned to wade into a seemingly impenetrable and corrupt network in Boston involving police officers, federal agents and organized crime figures. Sometime this month, Mr. Durham will begin a new assignment, this time setting up in Washington to delve into another arena of complexity and concealment, the Central Intelligence Agency.

As the recently named head of the investigation into the C.I.A.’s destruction of videotapes of secret interrogations, Mr. Durham will again be the outsider trying to apply a straightforward law enforcement template to a complex set of relationships and practices. A career prosecutor, he had been dispatched to Boston years ago by a Democratic attorney general, Janet Reno. This month, he was summoned to Washington by a Republican attorney general, Michael B. Mukasey.

Michael Clark, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent who worked with him for years in Connecticut, said that Mr. Durham’s experiences in unraveling the corrupt relationships in Massachusetts as well as in convicting public officials in Connecticut, including former Gov. John G. Rowland, demonstrate why his methods may be well suited to his new task. Mr. Clark, now first selectman in Farmington, Conn., said that the investigation of Mr. Rowland was fraught with political pitfalls and detours.

“John’ s style is dogged and focused,” Mr. Clark said. “Because he is so intent on following the facts, he refused to become involved in any political dimension or detour.” He said Mr. Durham was undeterred by “certain roadblocks people wanted to put in the way.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/us/13durham.html?ex=1357880400&en=2ecf62fd9cd1fe03&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[99th_Monkey]

1. If Durham's style is so dogged, he'd best be subpoenaing Jose Rodriguez, and pronto

before he has an "accident" ..

[Hissyspit]

2. .

[Jackpine Radical]

3. 5 and off to the Greatest.

I really don't understand why Mukasey appointed Durham, if he's as good as everybody says.

If I were to view this mess optimistically, I might speculate that the Senate had some inkling of what they were doing when they approved Mukasey. But then, these have not been the sort of times that incubate much optimism.

[seafan]

5. Durham will still report to DOJ leadership, which reports to the WH.

We need a special investigator who does not have the DOJ/WH as his superiors. That's what irks me so much about this.


He may be a superbly qualified individual, but as it stands now, he will not be independent of the guys he is investigating.

That's very convenient for the perps, I would say.

[fascisthunter]

6. yup

[bluesmail]

7. Mukassey

I remember back when there was a rumor going around that * had made a deal with the D's. (Of course part of that rumor was Cheney's resignation which hasn't happened to date) This would fit. sigh If Only K & R for giving me an ounce of hope, flip flop flip flop

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Maybe we can get him to come and vacation in Florida?