Two items: NYT editorial: The Gonzales Eight; Letter from GOP group called for firing

[ProSense]

Editorial

The Gonzales Eight

Published: March 8, 2007

Americans often suspect that their political leaders are arrogant and out of touch. But even then it is nearly impossible to fathom what self-delusion could have convinced Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico that he had a right to call a federal prosecutor at home and question him about a politically sensitive investigation.

That disturbing tale is one of several revealed this week in Congressional hearings called to look into the firing of eight United States attorneys. The hearings left little doubt that the Bush administration had all eight — an unprecedented number — ousted for political reasons. But it points to even wider abuse; prosecutors suggest that three Republican members of Congress may have tried to pressure the attorneys into doing their political bidding.

It already seemed clear that the Bush administration’s purge had trampled on prosecutorial independence. Now Congress and the Justice Department need to investigate possible ethics violations, and perhaps illegality. Two of the fired prosecutors testified that they had been dismissed after resisting what they suspected were importunings to use their offices to help Republicans win elections. A third described what may have been a threat of retaliation if he talked publicly about his firing.

Snip...

Congress must keep demanding answers. It must find out who decided to fire these prosecutors and why, and who may have authorized putting pressure on Mr. Cummins. And it must look into whether Senator Domenici and Representatives Wilson and Hastings violated ethics rules that forbid this sort of interference. We hope the House committee will not be deterred by the fact that Mr. Hastings is its ranking Republican. The Justice Department also needs to open its own investigation. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’s claim that these prosecutors were fired for poor performance was always difficult to believe. Now it’s impossible.

more...

From No Quarter:

Wednesday, 07 March 2007

"Please ask the White House to replace Mr. McKay"

Snip...

Today's Seattle Times provides a "smoking gun" letter from the strong-arm GOP lobbying organization, Building Industry Association of Washington, to U.S. Rep. "Doc" Hastings, one of the most powerful GOP House members and the ranking Republican on the House Ethics Committee. Furious about the victory of Democratic governor Christine Gregoire over the GOP's Dino Rossi, the Association's Executive Vice President Tom McCabe wrote a "demand letter" to Hastings:

(John McKay, U.S. Attorney, Seattle office) has been given evidence showing that forgeries likely occurred; that thousands of voters voted illegally; and that King County election officials broke the law. Yet, Mr. McKay has done nothing,

The letter concludes:

Please ask the White House to replace Mr. McKay. If you declde not to do this, let me know why.

Read the 2005 letter to the then Chair of the House Ethics Committee in full via PDF format.

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[ccpup]

1. I just sent an email

to the NYTimes thanking them for their coverage of this. But I also noted that after allowing this Administration to shred the Constitution and act without consequence over the past 6 years, they basically enabled the abject evil of Bush and his merry band of taxpayer financed Thugs. Sadly, it seems a bit day-late-dollar-short to now turn around and insist, in effect, that the Bush Team do the right thing re: Walter Reed and the 8 U.S. Attorneys.

[gratuitous]

2. The Times editorial, while welcome, is clearly not serious

Who, after all, would investigate the allegations that the Bush administration, its cronies in Congress, and the Justice Department acted improperly? Why, the Bush administration and its top legal eagle, Alberto Gonzales. Considering the glaring conflicts of interest already unearthed about this crew, why in the world would the Times advocate that the Justice Department look into their own wrongdoing?

Pointing it out in an editorial is nice; offering a real solution (independent prosecutor) would actually go some ways toward fixing the problem. Some people (okay, I'll names names: Rep. Wilson of NM, Rep. Hastings of WA, and Sen. Domenici of NM) need to resign their positions immediately.

[ProSense]

4. Two things:

1) BCCI investigation was launched by a first-term Senator in a Republican-controlled Congress under a Republican administration.

2) Patrick Fitzgerald is a special counsel appointed by the DOJ.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Silly NYT liberals. They just dont understand what "at will" means?

:sarcasm: