Lam Was Willing to Change Course

[SlowDownFast]

Source: TPMmuckracker

Lam Was "Willing to Change Course"
By Paul Kiel - March 21, 2007, 1:59 PM

Contrary to Justice Department and administration official's attempts to paint U.S. Attorney Carol Lam as recalcitrant on prosecuting immigration cases, an internal email shows that she was "willing to change course if people think that would be beneficial." Lam also volunteered to stay silent despite all the personal criticism because she did not want to put the DoJ in a bad light by complaining publicly about the lack of department resources.

The email, written by Associate Deputy Attorney General Ronald Tenpas in May of 2006 and sent to numerous high level Justice Department officials, relays a conversation that Tenpas had with Lam about her office's handling of immigration cases. The conversation followed complaints made by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and other Republicans about the number of border prosecutions in Lam's district.

The email reads:

"FYI Carol Lam, USA Southern California, called me earlier today to discuss matters related to the criticism Congressman Issa has been directing at the District re its practices in prosecuting/not prosecuting alien smuggling.... She wanted to communicate the following:

1. In her view, although the unrebutted criticism is making the Department look bad, she has been sitting quiet rather than attempting to respond publicly by explaining the resource limitations that she maintains affect the office's ability to do more smuggling cases;
2. She is willing to change course if folks think that would be beneficial;
3. She notes that she has never even met with Congressman Issa and would be happy to do so if that is thought useful; and
4. She will do anything else that the DAG would wish, including continuing to stand silent despite the personal criticism to which she thinks she is being subject through these comments.

She acknowledged understanding that it may be the judgment that continued silence is the best option of a set of limited options. I explained to her that, given the larger debate going on related to immigration, we would probably evaluate her observations and her offer in the context of wanting to contribute to the Administration's overall goals with respect to immigration reform.

One way or another, somebody such as myself or PADAG or CoS should probably follow-up with her to confirm our guidance lest any silence be construed as lack of guidance/indifference to her activity."



Read more: http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002836.php

[peacetalksforall]

1. The subject line saddened me - I thought it was about her conviction

of Cunningham and the spin-off investigations. I thought she might have told someone she was willing to change course on the Abramoff boys.

I guess if she had told someone she would change course on Cunningham plus, she wouldn't have been FIRED.

So far, we've learned nothing that makes her look like an underperformer - except in loyalty as perceived by Kg. Bush.

Do your job and you get in trouble if your job involves friends of Bush and Abramoff.

[roamer65]

2. This proves the firings were politically motivated.

Rethugs firing Rethugs, for not being Rethug enough. Complete disregard for quality of work. Subpoena away to your heart's content, Sen. Leahy.