What is happening at DOJ?

by nukegingrich | February 24, 2007 at 02:51 pm

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The larger story of the shakeup at DOJ has been floating around, mostly under the radar for a couple of months, now.

An eighth U.S. attorney announced her resignation yesterday, the latest in a wave of forced departures of federal prosecutors who have clashed with the Justice Department over the death penalty and other issues.

Margaret Chiara, the 63-year-old U.S. attorney in Grand Rapids, Mich., told her staff that she was leaving her post after more than five years, officials said. Sources familiar with the case confirmed that she was among a larger group of prosecutors who were first asked to resign Dec. 7.

A little publicized part of the recently renewed Patriot Act allows for the replacement of a US Attorney toward the end of an Administration without the normal checks and balances. From all indications, Atty Chiara was very highly regarded. "She's one of the best United States attorneys we've had in this district," said US District Judge R.H. Bell.

It is time for the Administration to explain these actions with more
than a vague statement citing "performance related issues."