AG Mukasey Names Special Prosecutor to Investigate Gonzales in Firings
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Related subjects: Congressional Oversight, U.S. Attorney firings, U.S. Law, U.S. Politics Comments (1)
US Attorney General Michael Mukasey has named a special prosecutor to investigate the untimely firing of 9 federal prosecutors, while the Justice Department was under the control of then AG Alberto Gonzales. The move comes as the Department’s inspector general’s office found serious flaws in the process that led to the dismissals. The prosecutor will look into whether Gonzales or anyone from his staff, or from other parts of the administration, may have acted illegally in firing federal prosecutors who claim they targeted for not pursuing politically motivated investigations.
The inspector general’s report suggests that Alberto Gonzales and at least one deputy “abdicated their responsibility to adequately oversee the process and ensure that the reasons for removal of each U.S. Attorney were supportable and not improper”. Gonzales’ chief of staff was also specifically blamed for supervising a “flawed and arbitrary removal process”. The forceful language used in criticizing Gonzales and his deputies suggests there is serious concern about criminal wrongdoing.
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There have long been allegations the firings were ordered by someone acting on behalf of the White House or someone in the White House itself. The report specifies that the White House has blocked its investigation by refusing to provide “internal documents” related to the firings, and that numerous administration officials and one senator refused to testify. Those individuals were named in the New York Times as:
Karl Rove, the president’s former chief political adviser; Harriet E. Miers, the former White House counsel; Monica Goodling, the department’s former White House liaison; Senator Pete Domenici, Republican of New Mexico; and Mr. Domenici’s chief of staff, Steven Bell.
The internal probe focused heavily on the firing of David Iglesias, citing administration opposition to releasing files about his case. White House counsel reportedly suggests that the administration believes it is protected by “executive privilege”, though it has not yet claimed so officially in its refusal to cooperate with the investigation. Some speculate that the counsel’s claim that releasing documents would “implicate White House confidentiality interests of a very high order” means top officials may have been involved.
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[...] candidates. Investigations are ongoing in several states and at the federal level, including an Independent-Counsel review of former Attorney Gen. Alberto Gonzales‘ alleged targeting of political [...]