Patrick Fitzgerald, 50 other federal prosecutors from the Bush regime can remain

[BlueJessamine]

Patrick Fitzgerald, 50 other federal prosecutors from the Bush regime can remain

The Chicago Tribune

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/02/patrick_fitzgerald_50_others_w.html

by Mark Silva

With all the controversy surrounding the Bush administration's firings of several U.S. attorneys, the question for the Obama administration became: What now?

And with all the muck that the hard-charging Chicago-based U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has stirred not only in Chicago, but also in Washington, the question became: How now?

The Obama White House has effectively, and somewhat quietly, answered that question: With Press Secretary Robert Gibbs explaining that the Justice Department has invited all the chief federal prosecutors who have not already left in the changing of the presidential guard to remain at their posts.

Of the 93 U.S. attorneys who served under the previous administration, Gibbs said aboard Air Force One en route to Phoenix with President Barack Obama, 51 remain.

"The Department of Justice asked those that were in place to stay and continue to serve,'' Gibbs said. "Some left before the previous administration ended. Fifty one U.S. attorneys continue to serve now, out of the 93.''

That includes Fitzgerald, who had the support of Illinois' senior Sen. Dick Durbin heading into the Obama administration. Durbin (D-Ill.) had said in November that he would recommend another term for the corruption-busting federal prosecutor. And Durbin's office had recently made it known that Fitzgerald would be sticking around, as our colleagues at the Ticket noted.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/blagojevich-oba.html

Thankyou for the Valentines heart!

:hi:

[aquart]

1. But the others were the ones pushing Bush policies.

Why on earth would we keep them rather than rehiring the honest ones they fired?

[jjray7]

2. precedent

It only makes sense if they change the law for US attorneys transforming the position from a political plumb to a career office. I'd say give the US attorneys 10 year terms upon appointment. It makes them more independent and less susceptible from White House pressure. I'd also make the standards for appointment more stringent--only those who having served 10 years as prosecutor at DOJ during their career should be eligible to be a US attorney. Cut out the political hacks from eligibility.

[jaysunb]

3. Good post

and welcome to DU. :hi:

[RandySF]

4. Good move

The offices of US Attorney and US Marshall should be non-political. I had an argument with another Democrat in 1993 when I sad that if a Bush-appointed attorney was honest and competent, then he/she should remain in office.

[democracy1st]

7. Monica Goodling appointed some of these guys it was nothing but political

Internal Justice Dept. Report Cites Illegal Hiring Practices
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/07/28/ST2008072801270.html


Monica Goodling, One of 150 Pat Robertson Cadres in the Bush Administration
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/monica-goodling-one-of-1_b_44588.html

[Cherchez la Femme]

8. Bush's AG's ARE political

And Obama kept them? Unbelievable.

[L. Coyote]

9. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

These are Bush politicos!

[Doctor_J]

5. This is a REALLY bad idea

Anyone still remaining who wasn't purged by Rove is an ultra-partisan right wing hack who will actively attempt to subvert justice. All of the honorable ones are long gone.

[defendandprotect]

6. This makes no sense, but even at that . . . is he inviting back those who Bush fired????

[L. Coyote]

10. The Obamas worked for the law firm defending the Bush criminals. WAKE UP!!

In politics, trust noone. Judge by actions, not words.

This action says "NO CHANGE" like no other!!

[MasonJar]

11. Does that include the ones in Alabama who used Rovian tactics to

indict Governor Seigelman? How can we find out; those two women must go.

[zonmoy]

12. Whats this did the honest people of the united states get sold down the river again.

[OwnedByFerrets]

13. Its the ones that DIDNT leave or get fired that we should be

MOST worried about. The good ones left or got fired. And dont for one second believe that Fitz is pure as the driven snow. He's not.