Ashcroft Announces Reorganization of the justice Department

Dow Jones News Wire | 11/8/2001 | Alex Keto

[tom paine 2]

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Thursday that he is ordering a major restructuring of the U.S. Department of Justice and said a much greater emphasis will be placed on the front-line law-enforcement work by agents, prosecutors and analysts. In addition, Ashcroft has asked both the FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to come up with reorganization plans by the end of the year that will place fighting terrorism at the top of their agendas.

Among the other steps the Department of Justice will take will be to consolidate law-enforcement activities. Ashcroft said that many law enforcement agencies currently pursue similar goals.

Finally, Ashcroft said the Department of Justice will dramatically revamp its information technology so that it is on the cutting edge of technology.

Ashcroft said he will submit his plan to reorganize the Department of Justice, including cutting headquarters staff, to Congress later Thursday.

Ashcroft said that while it can never be known whether the country's law- enforcement agencies kicking into high gear after Sept. 11 prevented any new terrorist attacks, he did say "two periods of extremely high risk have passed" and there have been no terrorist attacks.

"We have not suffered another major terrorist attack," Ashcroft said.

"The opening battle has passed," he added.

-By Alex Keto, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9256; Alex.Keto@dowjones.com

(This story was originally published by Dow Jones Newswires)

[basil]

One can only hope that the reorganization will clean out all the Klintoon people who are still there.

[MonroeDNA]

I hope he slashes the ATF to zero, and takes away their guns, tanks, armoured vehicles, helicopters, and other toys.

[curmudgeonII]

Just how long is it going to take to purge our law enforcement entities of the woes which were foisted on them by the Clinton administration?

[WIMom]

"In addition, Ashcroft has asked both the FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to come up with reorganization plans by the end of the year that will place fighting terrorism at the top of their agendas."

I truly hope this includes a complete revamp of the INS to stop illegals from staying in this country. This will be interesting to follow.

[JohnGalt]

ATF falls under Treasury; they are IRS agents afterall.

[Hugh Akston]

Bump to that.

[nygoose]

Don't we think it's time for someone to reorganize Bill Lan Lee out of the Justice Department?

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

This sounds very very good. Go get em, John!

[Fred Mertz]

I'll see it when I believe it. Ain't gonna change nuthin', but maybe I can cross my fingers and pray....

[hchutch]

ATF is the Treasury Department.

Why do I get the feeling that the Anti-Trust Division is going to be lucky to have anything to work with? And it won't even look like a payoff to Bill Gates.

[harpseal]

Finally.

Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[CDHart]

I think ATF is under Treasury, isn't it?

Carolyn

[Rockitz]

Hallelujah! I've been waiting for this. The focus of DOJ has been destroyed by the PC policies of previous administrations and congressional interference. I echo the other poster who was concerned about Clinton holdovers. TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE, JOHN!

[JIM O]

I thought the Justice Dept. was just RENO vated

[Southside_bubba]

Sounds to me like bigger, more intrusive gubmint.

[be-baw]

With all the systemic problems at DoJ and the FBI, complete overhaul may be the only way to shake things up. Hopefully these re-organizations will be more than just window-dressing.

[Sal]

Ashcroft said he will submit his plan to reorganize the Department of Justice, including cutting headquarters staff, to Congress later Thursday.

I certainly hope this is the excuse for pruning out the left-over Clintonistas, though why they needed an excuse I can't figure. OKCS, I know you have been beyond generous in saying that perhaps Ashcroft has "mistakenly" believed that Clintonian cover-ups of major crimes (and treasons IMO) were necessary because the country couldn't take it.

I think we both think it's less good than that, but I'd be delighted to choke back my outrage if he (they) FINALLY follow up on ME connections to OKC bombing, terrorist pardons, etc. etc. etc. I don't even care if he expresses surprise at all the info that was "kept from him" by leftover Clintonistas as long as he proceeds to do what should have done as soon as he was in there.

Yeah, I think the dam's about to break on information on TWA#800, OKC, you name it. It's gonna be very embarrassing for him (them) when people begin to understand that DOJ/FBI refused information given to them by reputable people like you and Schippers. If he/they act fast enough now and come up with a semi-reasonable excuse for why they didn't do it before, some REALLLY embarrassing questions may be headed off.

That is IF this HQ cut back means what I hope it does.

[Donald Stone]

I was hoping he might do something about the lack of ethics & integrity at the DOJ.

I also noticed there was no mention by Ashcroft about cleaning up corruption at the DOJ.

[True Capitalist]

Hopefully, they'll also restructure the DOJ's anti-trust dept and end once and for all the jihad declared against MSFT and focus their energy on something worthwhile like real threats to our country.