[hotshu]

I read on an earlier post that most folks inside the Beltway knew that Gorelick was pretty much running DoJ and that Reno was mostly a figurehead after she "took the heat" for Waco.

Ashcroft's appointment was held up in committee for months.

I think the Patriot Act did away with the Gorelick Wall.

[AmishDude]

Ashcroft was actually sworn in on Feb. 2, 2001. But you are right, it was a contentious hearing and the Democrats threatened to filibuster it. There were 42 no votes.