A very puzzling paragraph in Conyers' letter to Fielding

[spindrifter]

Go to www.judiciary.house.gov and take a look at the March 9, 2007 letter to Fred Fielding. The paragraph that keeps bothering me is as follows:

". Mr Cummins testified that he received a call from Michael Elston,
Mr. McNulty's chief of Staff, who informed him that voluntary
testimony to Congress by Mr. Cummins or any of his colleagues
would be seen as 'a major escalation of the conflict MERITING
SOME KIND OF UNSPECIFIED FORM OF RETALIATION.'
On its face, this testimony raises the possibility that the
Department may have sought to obstruct Congress' efforts to
ascertain the truth concerning these firings."

What is this retaliation business, and is it part of a matched set with the retaliation that the White House meted out to Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson?

[pscot]

1. The implication seems to have been

that damaging information would be released about why the USAs were fired.

[maddezmom]

2. Elston was the one threatening the USA's to stay mum or more info would be coming

about why they were fired. Yes, the info has come to light, but not the way he thought. Remember, they may have been wire tapped, etc. I think he was saying they would pull skeltons out of closets if they didn't shut up.

WP: Justice Official 'Horrified' Phone Call Was Seen as Threat (Elston)

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 12, 2007; Page A03

Until last Tuesday, Michael J. Elston was the happily anonymous chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty.

But then a former U.S. attorney told Congress that Elston had warned him and other fired prosecutors to stay quiet or risk retaliation from the Justice Department.

The testimony from former U.S. attorney Bud Cummins of Little Rock was one of a string of damning accounts to emerge from the firings of eight federal prosecutors. The firings have prompted outrage in Congress and moves to limit the attorney general's power to appoint replacements.

Elston said in an interview that he is "horrified" by the accusation, portraying it as an unfortunate misunderstanding fueled by rising tensions over the firings.

"By no means did I have any message in mind," Elston said. "I think he misinterpreted what I was saying, and I'm very sorry that occurred."

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

yeah, I'm sure he's horrified at getting caught

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2763890