Ex-Official Who Fired U.S. Attorneys Speaks Out (NPR)

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Ex-Official Who Fired U.S. Attorneys Speaks Out
by Ari Shapiro

"I can't say that it was anything other than just distasteful," former Justice Department official Michael Battle says of his role in the dismissal of seven federal prosecutors.

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Battle first saw the list of U.S. attorneys to be dismissed at a meeting in the attorney general's conference room in November 2006. Gonzales' chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, told the assembled staffers, "Everybody here knows the purpose of the meeting except Battle." The conversation focused on how the firings should work, not whether the prosecutors should be fired. By the time everyone left the room, Battle says, "It was very clear that I was going to be the one to make those calls."

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When asked whether Battle remembers what he told the prosecutors when he asked for their resignation, he says, "I don't know that I'll ever forget it."

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"Listen," Battle said he told the U.S. attorneys. "I've been asked to call you and advise you that you're being asked to submit your resignation as U.S. attorney."

He says everyone reacted with surprise and shock. The responses varied from, "Could you repeat yourself?" to "Are you sure? Is there anyone I can call?"

That's when it got to be uncomfortable. Battle was not allowed to answer any of their questions. He had been instructed to say as little as possible.

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