Attorney General

Patriot Act Changes Gave DOJ Control

The same day that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales assured a federal judge that a Montana U.S. attorney who worked in Washington was not violating federal law, that Montana prosecutor had a GOP senate staffer insert a provision to eliminate residency restrictions into a bill. The Washington Post says the incident…

May 2, 2007 2:56 PM CDT

Acquitted Prosecutor Questions Political Influence

The dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys is raising questions about whether federal prosecutors were pressured to investigate Democrats. One of the critics interviewed by the New York Times is Carl J. Marlinga, a former county prosecutor and Democratic congressional candidate in Michigan, who was acquitted of bribery charges. “Was there…

May 1, 2007 1:54 PM CDT

Top Gonzales Aides Could Fire Non-U.S. Attys

As the controversy continues over the alleged political purge of eight U.S. attorneys, information has come to light about who was empowered to fire lower-level employees. A Justice Department order shows that U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales authorized two top aides to fire political appointees who didn’t require Senate confirmation.…

May 1, 2007 11:01 AM CDT

Ex-DOJ Atty Scrutinized for Abramoff Dealings

Investigators are looking at contacts between a former Justice Department lawyer and a colleague of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The investigation involves dealings between ex-DOJ lawyer Robert E. Coughlin II and Abramoff colleague Kevin A. Ring, the Washington Post reports. The Post reported that Ring treated Coughlin to sporting events with…

Apr 30, 2007 5:51 PM CDT

Political Appointees Won’t Pick DOJ Interns

Responsibility for hiring some new lawyers and interns at the U.S. Justice Department will return to career prosecutors. An internal memo announced that political appointees will be removed from the hiring process. It was issued last Thursday following allegations that jobs went to well-connected conservative candidates, the Washington Post reports.…

Apr 30, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

Attorney-Firing Investigator Being Investigated

A Washington Post story weighs in on the controversy surrounding the lawyer who will be leading the investigation of political influence in government decision-making. Scott J. Bloch will be investigating the administration at the same time it is investigating him for his personnel practices, the story says. Employees have accused…

Apr 30, 2007 3:44 PM CDT

Lawyers Warn of Possible Gitmo Suicides

Lawyers for Guantanamo Bay detainees say a Justice Department plan to limit their visits could lead to an increase in suicides. “The level of depression is soaring, I am afraid,” lawyer Clive Stafford Smith told the Associated Press. The DOJ claims lawyers have misused the mail system to inform detainees…

Apr 30, 2007 1:07 PM CDT

DOJ Withholds 171 Documents in Firing Probe

The U.S. Justice Department has identified 171 documents it will withhold from Congress in its probe of the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, the Washington Post reports. DOJ has already turned over 6,000 pages of materials, but refuses to release documents involving media strategy and congressional inquiries about the firings.

Apr 27, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

Investigator Predicts White House Cooperation

The head of a government watchdog agency came away from a meeting with White House counsel Fred Fielding yesterday saying he believes the administration will cooperate with his probe of political influence. Scott Bloch, head of the Office of Special Counsel, said the two agreed to procedures that will be…

Apr 27, 2007 3:00 PM CDT

Legal Fate of Gitmo Detainees Debated

Senators yesterday debated the legal fate of about 380 detainees remaining at Guantanamo Bay, but no action was taken. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said detainees can be held for years with no legal recourse, the Associated Press reports. Indefinite detention is “unconstitutional. It’s un-American,” he said during…

Apr 27, 2007 2:32 PM CDT

Columnist: Bush is Boss, Gonzales Here to Stay

Media commentators who played up last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ last chance to save his job lost track of two key points, a columnist writes in today’s Indianapolis Star. President Bush is the only one with the power to fire Gonzales. And President…

Apr 27, 2007 11:02 AM CDT

Docs Show 9th U.S. Attorney Targeted, Aides Say

A ninth U.S. Attorney was initially among those targeted for firing, according to a preliminary list being compiled by Karl Rove, former chief of staff to U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales. But the Minnesota federal prosecutor, Thomas Heffelfinger, left his office voluntarily before the final list of eight U.S. attorneys allegedly…

Apr 27, 2007 11:01 AM CDT

Motives Questioned in Firing of Ariz. Prosecutor

The senator leading the probe into the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys contends new revelations raise serious questions about improper political motives in the firing of Paul Charlton of Arizona. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has sent Attorney General Alberto Gonzales a letter detailing his concerns, the Washington Post reports.…

Apr 26, 2007 4:07 PM CDT

DOJ: Gitmo Lawyers Threaten Security, Need Limits

The U.S. Justice Department is seeking greater restrictions on lawyers representing detainees at Guantanamo Bay, saying they are causing “intractable problems and threats to security.”

Apr 26, 2007 1:14 PM CDT

Gonzales Battle Puts Latino Groups in Hot Spot

As the controversy over Attorney General Alberto Gonzales continues, Latino groups reportedly are torn. Many gladly endorsed the elevation of the son of migrant farmworkers to the nation’s top prosecutorial position. Now that he is on the hot seat, however, over the controversial firing of eight U.S. attorneys – and…

Apr 26, 2007 2:12 AM CDT