Senators to Press Bush Admin on U.S. Attorney Firings

[Tuesday_Morning]

Senators to Press Bush Admin on U.S. Attorney Firings

By Justin Rood - January 25, 2007, 1:26 PM

Senate Democrats aren't dropping the issue of whether the administration is pushing out federal prosecutors in order to replace them with handpicked successors.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is slated to lead a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 7 on the topic of "Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is the Department of Justice Politicizing the Hiring and Firing of U.S. Attorneys?" No witnesses have been announced.

Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) bill to fix the loophole allowing administration appointees to U.S. attorney spots to serve indefinitely could see some action. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee panel, expressed "qualified support" for the measure and asked to work with Feinstein on it, according to his spokeswoman, Courtney Boone.

<snip>

The Judiciary Committee could vote on the bill as early as next week, sources say.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002411.php

[aquart]

1. "Pressing" used to have real meaning.

They put the victim under heavy weights and just kept adding on. That would be legal now, right?

[Trillo]

2. How many years has this been going on

"under the radar"?

How many professionals are fired for political reasons, but another rationale is "recorded" to get away with it and keep it "under the radar"?

Is this part of the reason we have 130+ years of growing corporatism? Is the firing of Lam and other Justice Department attorneys just business as usual?