Ex-Prosecutor Says He Faced Partisan Questions Before Firing

[cal04]

One of the eight former U.S. attorneys fired by the Bush administration said yesterday that White House officials questioned his performance in highly partisan political terms at a meeting in Washington in September, three months before his dismissal.

John McKay of Washington state, who had decided two years earlier not to bring voter fraud charges that could have undermined a Democratic victory in a closely fought gubernatorial race, said White House counsel Harriet Miers and her deputy, William Kelley, "asked me why Republicans in the state of Washington would be angry with me."

McKay said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the question -- which he took as a challenge to his 2004 decision -- surprised him because the issue had been reviewed by his office and supported by the FBI's office in Seattle. "We expected to be supported by people in Washington, D.C., when we make tough decisions like that," McKay said.

He added that he took umbrage at the idea that he had other responsibilities beyond focusing "on the evidence and not allow(ing) politics into the work that we do in criminal prosecutions." Those involved in the scandal over the firings who acted unprofessionally "or even illegally" must be held accountable for what they did, he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032401122.html


“Black Cloud hanging over the DOJ”

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/25/black-cloud-hanging-over-the-doj/

[mediaman007]

1. We should assume that the U.S. Attorneys that kept their jobs are

doing the political work that the administration sends them. They should be painted with the same brush. They can thank the Bush* administration for compromising their ethics. The door swings both ways.

[windbreeze]

4. especially any that * has had appointed...agreed..

and good point...I was impressed with McKay, both after the gubernatorial race here in Wa state and today...
wb

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. McKay and Fitzergerald were appointed by appointment fairies, then?

No. Not all of the attorneys are Bush hacks. The new replacements certainly are, but not the majority of AUSAs.

[windbreeze]

8. Ya know...I wasn't trying to cause a fight....

I have great admiration and respect for McKay, both after the gubernatorial race in WA state, and now...(thought I had already said that)....I apologize...I did not intend to insinuate that all USA's were corrupt or crooked....

However, I did mean the most recent USA appointees in particular..the ones who replaced McKay, and the others...(seems to me, it's becoming apparent they lost their jobs because they wouldn't play ball politically...so what might that indicate? and what would be wrong with making sure that politicizing the USA positions isn't widespread?)..
wb

[philosophie_en_rose]

6. Bull. We have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. nt.

There are likely many AUSAs that are sick of Bush and his tactics.

Why would you assume anything about what they're doing or what they believe?

Many AUSAs have already cooperated with the investigation or are just trying to do their jobs and pay back massive student loans.

But, if it makes you feel good about yourself, go ahead and look down on them.

[C_U_L8R]

2. It may not be a bad idea to call up every USA

and put em under oath. Who knows what hankypanky
went on with the ones that kept their jobs,

[pnwmom]

3. I have so much respect for McKay, one of the few Republicans lately

that seems to have integrity.

I also feel that way about Washington State's Sam Reed, who oversaw the close gubernatorial election and refused to cave to the demands of other Republicans that he throw the election their way.

[SeattleGirl]

5. I'm absolutely with you, pnwmom, on both McKay and Reed.

I wasn't aware until McKay started talking about how he was pressured, but I remember reading, aroumd the time of the gubernatorial recounts, etc., about the pressure on Sam Reed, and how he refused to buckle under to that pressure. These men are/were in jobs were they are sworn to uphold the law; pity that the repukes in the WH don't operate the same way.