Attorney firings had genesis in White House (serving at the pleasure of the President)

MSNBC ^ | 3/13/2007 | Dan Eggen and John Solomon/WP

[tobyhill]

The White House suggested two years ago that the Justice Department fire all 93 U.S. attorneys, a proposal that eventually resulted in the dismissals of eight prosecutors last year, according to e-mails and internal documents that the administration will provide to Congress today.

The dismissals took place after President Bush told Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales that he had received complaints that some prosecutors had not energetically pursued voter-fraud investigations, according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Gonzales approved the idea of firing a smaller group of U.S. attorneys shortly after taking office in February 2005. The Gonzales aide in charge of the dismissals — his chief of staff, D. Kyle Sampson — resigned yesterday, officials said, after acknowledging that he did not tell Justice officials about the extent of his communications with the White House, leading them to provide incomplete information to Congress.

[highball]

Yet another non-scandal.

I agree. Prosecutors serve at the President's pleasure - if he wants to remove any or all, that is his prerogative.

But by resigning, Alberto's Chief of Staff is essentially admitting wrongdoing. I just don't get it. Dumping blood in the water won't exactly discourage the sharks.

[tobyhill]

It is funny that the Rats and media used that example of crime and wonder why a lack of investigation would get them canned.

[Michael.SF.]

replaced with an alcoholic Democrat party hack.

I don't think Ted Kennedy ever served as a US Attorney.

[mewzilla]

And IIRC, Wallace said that then US Atty. Michael Chertoff wasn't the only attorney Toon didn't fire.

[RJS1950]

Unfortunately our gonad-free administration will do nothing to aggressively counter this lie and it will turn into a big "scandal" for the witless and uninformed american public.

Ignoring the problem, taking the "high road" will do nothing but encourage the rats to pour on more lies and unfounded accusations. Playing nice with these slimes gets you the same results as playing nice with terrorists--they will destroy you. Fight back you spineless republicans!

[Don Corleone]

Hindsight is generally 20/20.

[NC28203]

>>>I agree. Prosecutors serve at the President's pleasure - if he wants to remove any or all, that is his prerogative.

I think the problem came in when instead of just letting them go, as is the President's perogative, deputy AG Paul McNulty claimed that most of the firings were the result of subpar performances—more or less forcing some of the dismissed attorneys to defend themselves in public.

[tobyhill]

The Republicans didn't lose the last election based on their philosophical belief, they lost the elections because they refused to fight for their philosophical belief.

[highball]

I think the problem came in when instead of just letting them go, as is the President's perogative, deputy AG Paul McNulty claimed that most of the firings were the result of subpar performances—more or less forcing some of the dismissed attorneys to defend themselves in public.

That's a good point.

It's always the lie that gets you. But why lie at all?

[UncleDick]

To the victor go the spoils.

[tobyhill]

Everyone knew there was massive voter fraud in the last election and if the US Attorneys would not vigorously pursue charges then they should be canned. The one lady from LA or San Diego said that she received an order to go after all illegals harder and prosecute more but arbitrarily decided to go after the ones she felt important but then she turned around and said it was because of Duke Cunningham.

[HawaiianGecko]

The White House suggested two years ago that the Justice Department fire all 93 U.S. attorneys, a proposal that eventually resulted in the dismissals of eight prosecutors last year, according to e-mails and internal documents that the administration will provide to Congress today.

So what's wrong with that?  They are political appointments to begin with.  Are these journalists so stupid that they don't realize this?

[P-40]

and Kevin V. Ryan in San Francisco, whose firing has generated few complaints because of widespread management and morale problems in his office.

That line struck me as funny for some reason. :)

[Just A Nobody]

some prosecutors had not energetically pursued voter-fraud investigations,

You beat me to it! And NOW we know why our elections have turned out the way they have. Folks need to WAKE UP!!!

[Calpernia]

That hearing was suppose to start on March 6, 2007. I've not seen any threads on it. Have you?

[pollyannaish]

Anyone else find it interesting that they are trying to build a new watergate and seem to be starting in the AG office? I honestly think that is where they are going with this. It is all about creating the "appearance" of evil and banking on the public's ignorance of history.

This is not time for infighting. These guys may appear idiotic, but they are treacherous.

[Just A Nobody]

by resigning...is essentially admitting wrongdoing

A lot of that going on lately when it is NOT necessary and has the potential to be very harmful!

[P-40]

That hearing was suppose to start on March 6, 2007.

There is a short statement on the hearing here:

rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/e030907_leahy.rm

The full hearing is here:

rtsp://video.c-span.org/60days/e030607_judiciary.rm

[Calpernia]

Thank you very much!

[Txsleuth]

Actually, last week the GOP Senators did have a press conference and they were asked about this...

Sen. Jeff Sessions was the one that spoke up...because he was one of the US Attorneys that got fired 2 weeks after Clinton took office.

However, the fact that you didn't know that, speaks volumes about why this is another PR COUP for the dems.