Bedrock principle is at the center of U.S. attorneys controversy (McClatchy)

[pinto]

Bedrock principle is at the center of U.S. attorneys controversy

By Ron Hutcheson and Marisa Taylor
McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON - Former Attorney General John Ashcroft had a standard spiel for new U.S. attorneys: "You have to leave politics at the door to do this job properly."

Maintaining that independence, without fear of repercussions, is the bedrock principle at stake in the controversy over the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. As the top law enforcement official in each of their jurisdictions, these federal prosecutors have the power to destroy reputations, careers and even lives.

They're political appointees, but they're supposed to follow the evidence wherever it leads, without fear or favor. While presidents have the power to remove them for any reason, tradition holds that prosecutors should stay on the job unless they're corrupt or incompetent.

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"I think it does smell," said Frank DiMarino, a former federal prosecutor who served under six U.S. attorneys in Florida and Georgia during his 18-year Justice Department career. "There's no problem with putting somebody who has been loyal to the party into the position, but once they're in place, you have to give U.S. attorneys independence."

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© 2007 McClatchy Washington Bureau and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.

[williesgirl]

1. Amen to that. recommended

[sam sarrha]

2. the "purpose" was to cover up "Hooker Gate" , $21,000,000 HALS limo service taking senators, lobbyis...

and congressmen to a whore house for Republicans at the watergate apartments and supplying hookers and maybe a good paying casino.. is this why they vote in unison.. the blackmailing from the videos taken at events like this

that is why some of the investigators got fired

[juno jones]

3. Get them all...

...Peel the damn lid off and anybody caught filthy-handed in that can are so HISTORY! They always wanted to be remembered for something, the politician's raison d'etre, let's give them their wish. I for one do not wish then to remembered as saints like Ronnie Dementia. I don't care who's involved, we must clean house. This situation exists now because a few front guys have taken the fall in every scandal so far. And others have allowed this to slide in exchange for favors and power. The buck stops here, baby.

[DemoVet]

4. Interesting that this is worrying republicans.....

Think they're worried that there'll be a Democratic Attorney General in 2009? Combine that with a Democratic Congress with subpoena power and some very real crimes committed by republicans over the past few years and it might be 50 years or more before the republicans get near a majority in Congress again.