Posted on 04/22/2014 7:45:53 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
President Obama on Monday said he has selected W. Neil Eggleston to become chief counsel, adding the expertise of a veteran attorney who was involved in some of the most heated legal battles of the Clinton administration.
Eggleston, a white-collar defender who is now at Kirkland & Ellis, will replace departing White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler in mid-May.
"Neil brings extraordinary expertise, credentials, and experience, to our team," Obama said in a statement. "He has a passion for public service, is renowned for his conscientiousness and foresight, and I look forward to working closely with him in the coming years."
Eggleston worked as a White House lawyer under Clinton, handling politically explosive issues like the Whitewater controversy, and later represented the former president during the investigation into the Monica Lewinsky affair.
He also represented Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, then the White House chief of staff, during the prosecution of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), who was convicted of attempting to solicit bribes for appointment to Obama's Senate seat.
Eggleston will have large shoes to fill in the West Wing, where Ruemmler has played a central role in a series of administrative policy initiatives and controversies.
"Kathy has become one of my most trusted advisers,” Obama said. "I deeply value her smarts, her wit, her impeccable judgment — but most importantly her uncanny ability to see around the corners that nobody else in the room anticipates. I will forever be grateful for her service to the country, will continue to seek her counsel, and most of all, I am proud to call her a close friend."
When an IRS audit found that the tax collection agency had been targeting conservative political groups, it was Ruemmler's decision not to tell the president about the findings, in an attempt to shield Obama from charges he interfered in the investigation.
She also advised the president to resist congressional demands to release draft talking points following last year's attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, infuriating congressional Republicans.
In 2011, Ruemmler also provoked congressional ire when she sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee flatly stating there was no evidence the White House helped failed green energy company Solyndra win a government loan on behalf of a campaign donor.
Ruemmler also advised the president against disclosing details of the administration's drone program, including the targeted killing of American citizen and al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki. At the time, Ruemmler cautioned that disclosures would weaken the government's position in pending legislation by civil rights groups and journalists seeking more information about drone strikes.
President Obama did eventually disclose al-Awlaki's killing, as well as the legal justification and procedures for drone strikes.
More recently, Ruemmler played a role in attempting to mediate a dispute between the CIA and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who has accused the spy agency of removing documents from a computer used by congressional investigators examining the CIA’s torture practices.
And Ruemmler’s office earlier this month contacted Samsung to protest the cellphone manufacturer’s promotional stunt in which Red Sox slugger David Ortiz took a “selfie” with the president.
He’s worried about scandals erupting.
I look forward to working closely with him in the coming years.”
Maybe even Obam can read the writing on the wall.
BINGO!
(He’s been doing such an outstanding job, what could he possibly be worried about?)
Did you notice the Drone Swerve? They know people support those strikes do they pretend like that is his biggest scandal.
HE still has a few years “legally”...................
He can read the writing on the wall if they put it on the teleprompter for him.
Can't he just go for a ride in a golf cart and fade into the sunset ?
Enter the coverup experts.
I briefly met Eggleston about 11 years ago. He was hired to do some work for a bank for which I had regulatory responsibility. The bank had gotten really cross-ways with an Assistant US Attorney. Now it becomes clear to me that he was hired because of his connections and political muscle.
His claim to fame at the time was serving as the chief counsel to the Senate Committee investigating the Iran-Contra affair, so I figured he was a bit slimy. This information gives me some insight into the degree and magnitude of his sliminess.
Does the new counsel have experience with impeachment hearings?
He’s worried about scandals erupting.
He’s worried with the wipe out of the democrats in the 2014 mid-terms, he’ll be targeted for impeachment. And rightly so. The IRS targeting goes all the way to the White House and Obama and Jarret.
I really cannot answer that with any authority. But judging from the circles in which he runs, I would bet he consulted behind the scenes when Bubba Clinton got impeached.
Here Comes da Judge!
And the impeachment
And the indictment
And the.......
Extraordinary expertise, credentials, and experience.
Extortion Muscle Black male ?.
...........I would bet he consulted behind the scenes when Bubba Clinton got impeached..................
I only hope that Sheriff Joe, is sitting on his porch with some ice tea, going over the final draft, before presenting it to the world within the next week!
Sounds like the WH War on Women continues, since Ruemmler is getting the boot and is being replaced by a man. I hope someone brings it up at the next press gaggle.
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