Official close to attorney firings quits (Mike Elston)

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Justice Department official who
helped carry out the firings of eight U.S. attorneys said Friday he
is resigning.

Mike Elston, chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul
McNulty, is the fifth Justice official to leave after being linked
to the dismissals of the prosecutors.

... Elston’s resignation is effective at the end of next week.
Reached Friday afternoon, he confirmed his plans to leave but would
not say why.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4894111.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Rats jumping from the sinking ship!

[rzemanfl]

2. Friday news dump.....

[flyarm]

3. K&R!!

[StatGirl]

4. If firing the attorneys was perfectly legal and ethical . . .

. . . then why are all these people resigning?

[Tempest]

5. The answer is obvious

They know it's the only way they can get immunity if Congress issues a subpoena.


Welcome to DU, SG.
:hi:

[Patsy Stone]

7. Move along...

Nothing to see here. Everything's just fine; these aren't the 'droids you're looking for. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Golly all those repubs wanting to spend more time with their family.

That old George Bush and Gonzales making them work so hard.

[struggle4progress]

8. Justice aide close to prosecutor firings resigns (Reuters)

Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:47PM EDT

~snip~ Elston said he was leaving to join a law firm in the Washington area. His resignation takes effect next Friday.

Some of the fired prosecutors have said they received phone calls from Elston encouraging their silence about the firestorm surrounding Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who ousted the prosecutors last year as part of a plan that originated at the White House. ~snip~

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer said almost every official involved in the firings was gone, except for Gonzales.

"Alberto Gonzales appears to be the last man standing but he should have been the first to go," Schumer said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1529211120070615

[Horse with no Name]

9. Official close to attorney firings quits

Source: Associated Press

"When yet another significant player resigns in the U.S. attorney scandal, it only deepens the mystery of who targeted U.S. attorneys for firing, why they did it, and what exactly is going on in the highest reaches of the Justice Department and who is filling the vacuum of leadership that has developed there," said Conyers, D-Mich.

As McNulty's top aide, Elston's duties included overseeing the government's 93 U.S. attorneys nationwide. Elston helped plan and carry out the firings of seven of the eight prosecutors who were dismissed in 2006 — firings which were orchestrated by two of Gonzales' top aides beginning shortly after the 2004 elections. Elston also called several of the U.S. attorneys afterward trying to quell the growing outcry.

At least four of the prosecutors Elston contacted said they felt threatened by his calls, which they interpreted as demands to stay quiet about why they were fired. Congress is investigating the firings, which Democrats believe were politically motivated.

Elston and his attorney, Bob Driscoll, said the phone calls were never meant to be threatening.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070616/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fired_prosecutors

[Breeze54]

10. Is this really "breaking"?

Official Close To Attorney Firings Quits
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 9 hours ago

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6712990,00.html

[Horse with no Name]

12. Yahoo said on the story 1 1/2 hours ago

I worked last night and slept all day...so...

[Judi Lynn]

11. Very interesting. First I've heard of this. Thanks a lot. n/t

[sbyte]

13. Friday nite resignation, short blurb on CBS cable news.

Story that is not story, under reported story, or Saturday news story?
Now that it's getting down to the nitty gritty were tring not to mince ouor words.

[FloridaJudy]

14. Rats/ship n/t

[ShortnFiery]

15. Whorish M$M complicit with another typical Friday News Dump ...

In fact, "a cow in someone's swimming pool" and other tripe combined with Celebrity Bread and Circuses are seemingly ALL the news the USA's M$M deems fit for us chattering classes. :grr:

I read the Whoreshington Post everyday for at least a cross section of world events, but have long since given up on the utter GARBAGE that passes for Cable/Broadcast News TV. :(

[maddezmom]

16. thanks for the link

been away from the news a few days