U.S. attorney worried 'gloves would come off' over criticism of ouster

[babylonsister]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/16840449.htm

U.S. attorney worried 'gloves would come off' over criticism of ouster
By Marisa Taylor
McClatchy Newspapers



snip//

According to the former U.S. attorney, Elston made a “pointed comment that indicated that somehow anyone who talked might become more embarrassed if the story continued on.”

“The inference was that they were holding themselves back from saying more about why people were fired _ that it was likely the department was going to step up the defense of their actions,” the fired prosecutor said. “It could have been construed as friendly advice or a casual prediction. But I think it was expected that everyone would be told about the call.”

When conveying the message to the others, the prosecutor tried to make it clear that the meaning of the conversation shouldn’t be overdramatized.

But another former U.S. attorney, who wasn’t a party to the Justice Department conversation, interpreted the comments as a threat, especially since it came when congressional Democrats were contacting the attorneys about possibly testifying before Congress.

“I took it to mean that negative, personal information would be released,” the prosecutor said. “That if we made public comments or if we were to testify in Congress, that the gloves would come off and the Department of Justice would make us regret that we were talking.”

The controversy over the firings of the eight U.S. attorneys has continued for weeks, but it was reignited last week when U.S. Attorney David Iglesias told McClatchy Newspapers that he believed that two members of Congress called him in mid-October to pressure him to complete the investigation before the November elections. Iglesias, who stepped down last week, added that he believed he was fired because he didn’t speed up the case.

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[redqueen]

1. I'm sure he's correct in that assessment.

Not like it's anything new (e.g. Wilson/Plame).

[w4rma]

2. Best to fight them now and win, rather than let them hold the sword over your head (nt)

[Morgana LaFey]

4. Amen. The ONLY way to win against bullies and thugs is to

face them down. Stand up to them. Take it on the chin, but expose the threats and (in this case) witness tampering and intimidation.

[nicknameless]

3. BLACKMAIL ... bushco's classic M.O.

They've used it against Congress, against the press, against UN members, etc. ad nauseam

[xxqqqzme]

5. Greed - unrestricted, outlandishly, brass-assed

GREED- for power - money - country - souls - whatever they can get next. They f*cking want it all and if they can't get it, they'll trash it on their way out the door.