Post: 1 in 4 U.S. Attys in Justice Dept's Sights
Senior officials at the U.S. Justice Department reportedly considered firing at least 25 percent of the country’s top prosecutors during a two-year period starting in early 2005.
That is far more than has previously been publicly acknowledged, despite repeated testimony by the U.S. Attorney General and other senior Justice officials in recent Congressional committee hearings. However, sources say at least 26 U.S. attorneys were considered for dismissal between Feb. 2005 and Dec. 2006, as confirmed by non-public documents, the Washington Post reports in a page one story today.
Meanwhile, a growing number of both Democratic and Republican members of Congress say they believe Gonzales should resign, and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., the senior Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he believes Gonzales will soon have virtually no choice but to do so, reports AP.
“I have a sense that when we finish our investigation, we may have the conclusion of the tenure of the attorney general,” said Specter today during a committee hearing. “I think when our investigation is concluded, it’ll be clear even to the attorney general and the president that we’re looking at a dysfunctional department which is vital to the national welfare.”
