Prosecutors

Senate ‘No Confidence’ Vote on Gonzales?

In the latest salvo in the continuing controversy over U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and his role in the firing of eight U.S. attorneys as part of an alleged political purge, Democrats in the Senate are reportedly considering a call for a non-binding no-confidence vote. Roll Call, a Capitol Hill…

Apr 24, 2007 9:19 PM CDT

Watchdog Will Probe U.S. Attorney Firing, Political Influence

An investigation of political influence in the Bush administration will include a probe into the firing of at least one U.S. attorney, the Los Angeles Times reports. The probe by the federal Office of Special Counsel will look at political operations run by presidential political adviser Karl Rove, the story…

Apr 24, 2007 7:51 PM CDT

AGs Cooperate in Student Loan Probe

Attorneys general from Illinois and Missouri are the latest state legal officers to force student loan companies to change their practices, the Washington Post reports. Washington University in St. Louis, DeVry University and Career Education Corp. pledge in settlement agreements to reject referral fees for sending business to favored lenders.…

Apr 24, 2007 3:58 PM CDT

Ethics Complaint Alleges Courthouse Affair

An ethics complaint claims a prosecutor appeared before a Colorado judge even though the two were having an affair that included trysts in the judge’s chambers, the Rocky Mountain News reports. Named in the complaint are Grafton Minot Biddle, who resigned his Douglas County judgeship after his wife sent a…

Apr 24, 2007 3:20 PM CDT

Specter Has ‘Confidence’ in Gonzales

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., says he will “continue to work with the attorney general as long as he has that position.” Specter is the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee investigating the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. He spoke to the New York Times yesterday after President Bush told…

Apr 24, 2007 1:21 PM CDT

Did Bad Morale Send DOJ Lawyers Packing?

Several lawyers have left the U.S. Department of Justice as the controversy continues over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. None of the attorneys contacted by the National Law Journal attributed their moves to the firings, though. It’s not unusual for DOJ attorneys to move to the private sector, but…

Apr 24, 2007 12:51 PM CDT

Producer Researching Murder Case Lands on Jury

An NBC producer who was researching the murder case against music producer Phil Spector has landed on the jury, the Los Angeles Times reports. The producer for Dateline NBC wrote in a jury questionnaire that he has read many court documents in the case and has met a defense expert…

Apr 23, 2007 5:45 PM CDT

Bush Vote of Confidence: AG ‘Broke No Law’

Countering calls from both sides of the aisle for the resignation of embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, President Bush on Monday defended him as “an honest, honorable man, in whom I have confidence,” reports the Chicago Tribune. Although many observers have said they lost confidence in Gonzales during his hearing…

Apr 23, 2007 5:30 PM CDT

Court Accepts Money Laundering Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether the ban on money laundering applies if a criminal operation didn’t turn a profit, SCOTUSblog reports. The court also remanded two cases challenging state partial-birth abortion laws.

Apr 23, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

GOP Senator: It’s Bush’s Call on Gonzales

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., told Fox News Sunday that Alberto Gonzales’ continued presence is “bad for the Justice Department,” but it’s up to President Bush to decide whether to demand a resignation, the New York Times reports. Specter is the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating…

Apr 23, 2007 1:18 PM CDT

DA Says Judgeships Were Bought

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes says a former judge convicted of bribery last week could help prove longtime rumors that judges have had to pay to obtain judgeships. The New York Law Journal quotes Hynes as saying ex-Judge Gerald Garson and a former assemblyman “have information about the system…

Apr 23, 2007 12:36 PM CDT

Walls Breaking Down Between WH and DOJ, Hearings Reveal

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week highlighted a policy shift in his administration that gave White House officials increased access to the Justice Department, according to an analysis in Legal Times. Former Attorney General Janet Reno had issued a memo in 1994 that limited…

Apr 23, 2007 12:19 PM CDT

7th Circuit Criticizes Baseless Wis. Prosecution

In the latest salvo in the ongoing clash over the apparent political purge of eight U.S. attorneys, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion (PDF) today in a case that some see as presenting the flip side of the issue. The 14-page opinion, authored by Judge…

Apr 20, 2007 9:59 PM CDT

Government Proffer Details Mob Business

The Chicago Tribune says prosecution documents unsealed yesterday reveal the “gritty business” of the Chicago mob as it shook down businesses, made juice loans, ran gambling rings and ordered hits on enemies. Ruling on a motion filed by the newspaper, U.S. District Judge James Zagel of Chicago ordered the document…

Apr 20, 2007 4:20 PM CDT

‘Dark Forces’ Can’t Stop Colombian AG

The attorney general of Colombia tells the Miami Herald he is “committed to this whole process of opening up cases and unearthing the truth.” Attorney General Mario Iguarán has filed cases against influential politicians and military officials who are undermining Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the newspaper reports. Prosecutions allege officials…

Apr 20, 2007 2:30 PM CDT