Reese Schonfeld
03.13.2007
The word is out. The White House was involved in the Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to fire U.S. Attorneys who had failed to "investigate" corruption involving Democratic candidates for the House and Senate, and/or possible voter fraud by Democrats in closely contested elections. The DOJ point man, D. Kyle Sampson, Attorney General's Gonzalez' Chief of Staff, resigned yesterday.
Snip...Paul Krugman reminds us, in The New York Times brings up another question. In September '06, just before the election, Chris Christie, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, brought subpoenas "in connection with allegations of corruption on the part of Senator Bob Menendez," the Democratic candidate for the Senate. The subpoenas were leaked and became front page news.
Karl Rove had made no secret that the 2006 campaign would feature Democratic corruption as an antidote to Abramoff, Cunningham, Fry, etc. He had polled on their effectiveness and seemed satisfied with the results and Menendez' opponent, Tom Kean, ran commercials based on the allegations. Nevertheless, Menendez retained his seat. Christie retained his job while other prosecutors who had failed to heed suggestions that they launch pre-election investigations into possible Democrat corruption are now out of work. The Judiciary Committee must take testimony from Christie: Were there any suggestions from anyone that he issue subpoenas before election day? If so, from whom?
Two other prosecutors (Washington and New Mexico) had refused to bring fraud charges in statewide elections decided by less than 5,000 votes. They were fired, too. It seems clear now that one of the Bush credentials for appointment as U.S. Attorney is the willingness and the ability to challenge any close election that has gone to the Democrats.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reese-schonfeld/tammany-tammany_b_43353.html