Prosecution Complex

NY Times ^ | 27 MARCH 2007 | NEAL KATYAL

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March 27, 2007

Op-Ed Contributor

Prosecution Complex

By NEAL KATYAL

Washington

IN 1999, when the Independent Counsel Act (the law that gave Kenneth Starr and Lawrence Walsh their mandates) was expiring, I was given the job of writing the new Justice Department rules for the appointment of a special prosecutor since the department would once again be responsible for overseeing such investigations.

There was one hypothetical to worry about once the Independent Counsel Act lapsed: a case in which the attorney general herself and her deputy were suspected of possible misconduct. The rules were therefore written to vest the decision about whether to appoint a special prosecutor in the top Justice Department official not embroiled in the controversy.

Today, the only way to get to the bottom of the United States attorney scandal — which involved the administration’s firing of nearly 10 percent of America’s top prosecutors — is to use these rules and appoint a special prosecutor. The nightmare has now come true.

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No comment.

[Jim Verdolini]

Everyone involved in this bogus investigation, and I mean everyone, should claim the 5th. To do anything else is to risk being Scootered.

[Congressman Billybob]

This is a CLINTON official, who was probably there when Clinton (him) fired all 93 US Attorneys, saying that a Special Prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the firing of eight (count 'em, eight) US Attorneys by President Bush. Did I get that right? Did the New York Times (accidentally) miss that point?

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "Charlie and Rosie are Scum"

[Enchante]

Oh, this is just great - a Clintonista scumbag who was corrupt enough to work closely with Janet Reno (just how many times did you insist upon a special prosecutor for dealing with Reno, the Clintons, etc. Mr. Kaytal??) is now preaching to all of us about the non-scandal with the US Attorneys. Hey, Mr. NEAL KATYAL, here's a clue: when there is NOTHING at stake except the usual vicious 'Rat politics, there is no reason even to discuss legal proceedings or a special counsel, etc. The facts are clear, the Bush administration acted completely within its rights as the executive branch dealing with political appointees, and everything else is just vicious blather from 'Rats and RINOs.