Prosecutors

Conyers: AG ‘Breadcrumbs’ Go to White House

Today’s House Judiciary Committee hearing elicited few clear answers from U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales about the controversial firings last year of U.S. Attorneys, allegedly for political reasons, although the list has now been determined to include at least nine, rather than the original eight. But unlike last month’s Senate…

May 10, 2007 10:25 PM CDT

Media: Not a Lot of New Info in Latest AG Hearing

As a daylong U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing at which Alberto Gonzales was the star witness continued this afternoon, not a lot of new information came out, media reports agreed. However, the U.S. Attorney General was criticized for his lack of leadership in allegedly allowing politicization of the Justice Department.…

May 10, 2007 6:28 PM CDT

Police Often Ticketed Fort Dix Suspects

Responding to suggestions that police should have checked the immigration status of suspects accused of plotting to attack Fort Dix, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said new laws and more money are needed to fight illegal immigration. Gonzales responded today to questions about a Washington Post report that four of the…

May 10, 2007 5:10 PM CDT

Partisan Sparring in Gonzales Hearing

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and its ranking Republican sparred today as they interviewed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. In his testimony, Gonzales repeated assertions that his decision to fire eight U.S. attorneys was not based on improper reasons and the firings…

May 10, 2007 4:42 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor Says He Was Pushed Out

Former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves of Missouri says he was pushed to resign. Graves wasn’t among the eight U.S. attorneys who were fired by the Justice Department. But he told the New York Times that DOJ official Michael Battle told him to look for another job. Graves says he doesn’t…

May 10, 2007 2:57 PM CDT

Indictment for Shooting that Changed History

The district attorney wasn’t releasing the name of the man indicted yesterday for a 1965 killing in Alabama that helped inspire a 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery. But the lawyer for retired police officer James B. Fowler told the New York Times that the indictment likely names…

May 10, 2007 2:19 PM CDT

Gonzales Tells Aides He’ll Keep Job

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has told aides he will likely survive the flap over his dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. Some administration officials, including political strategist Karl Rove and White House Counsel Fred Fielding, had earlier expressed misgivings about Gonzales. But in the face of President Bush’s steadfast support…

May 10, 2007 2:00 PM CDT

Two Fired U.S. Attys Suggest Criminal Charges

Two former U.S. attorneys allegedly fired as part of a political purge reportedly predict possible criminal charges against senior Justice Department officials as a result of the dismissals. “I think there will be a criminal case that will come out of this,” John McKay, former U.S. Attorney for western Washington…

May 10, 2007 1:51 AM CDT

Rising Tally of Alleged US Attorney Firing Targets

Remember when the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, possibly as part of a political purge, was an issue in ongoing Congressional committee hearings? Now it appears that the correct number of federal prosecutors targeted for dismissal could be nine, ten or – if other shoes are yet to drop –…

May 9, 2007 8:42 PM CDT

AG Apologizes Pre-Hearing, Asks for New Focus

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has apologized and asked members of Congress to help the Justice Department focus on its crime-fighting mission, in a written statement submitted in anticipation of a scheduled House Judiciary Committee hearing tomorrow. In the statement, he said he apologizes for “the process” by which eight…

May 9, 2007 6:32 PM CDT

Ex U.S. Attorney Decries ‘Secret Hit Lists’

Todd Graves of Missouri wasn’t among the eight fired U.S. attorneys, but he was on a preliminary Justice Department list of prosecutors targeted for removal. And he was also targeted by an aide to Sen. Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo., without the senator’s knowledge. A spokeswoman for Bond says the senator’s…

May 9, 2007 5:50 PM CDT

Al-Qaida Inspired Militants a New Threat

Six men accused of plotting to storm Fort Dix represent a new threat: militants inspired by but not linked to al-Qaida.

May 9, 2007 1:47 PM CDT

Angry Lawyer Shows No Signs of Illness

A defense lawyer yelled and pounded his fist on the table, prompting a scolding yesterday from the judge presiding over the murder trial of Phil Spector. The trial had been delayed because of illness suffered by lawyer Bruce Cutler. But his voice was in fine form yesterday as he angrily…

May 8, 2007 5:01 PM CDT

Questions Surround Prosecutor Hire

A controversial lawyer got a job with the federal prosecutor’s office for the District of Columbia after four senior Justice Department officials intervened on his behalf. Jay Apperson, who once worked for independent counsel Kenneth Starr, didn’t have to go through the usual hiring process, according to the Washington Post.…

May 8, 2007 4:18 PM CDT

Would-Be Terrorist Plots and Talks on Tape

Tapes of an accused terrorist played in the trial of a physician who is alleged to be a co-conspirator reveal a plot that was long on talk and short on actions, according to the New York Times. In the tapes, Tarik Shah explains how to “rip somebody’s throat out” and…

May 8, 2007 2:11 PM CDT