By now you've heard that the "White House was deeply involved" in the purge of U.S. attorney generals, but did you hear that it was all Harriet Miers' fault?
The almost Supreme Court Justice apparently had an original idea when she suggested firing all 93 U.S. attorneys, but, thank Rove, the slyer heads of Gonzales, and his top aid (who resigned yesterday), and Karl Rove prevailed. Bush had nothing to do with this! He was seen napping at the time.
Bush may have "informally" mentioned the dire problem of too many people voting to Gonzales, but he certaily never suggested firing attorney generals because they failed to prosecute Democrats! Nor did his brain have anything to do with it. Just ask Harriet.
The dismissals took place after President Bush told Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales in October that he had received complaints that some prosecutors had not energetically pursued voter-fraud investigations, according to a White House spokeswoman.
Gonzales approved the idea of firing a smaller group of U.S. attorneys shortly after taking office in February 2005. The aide in charge of the dismissals — his chief of staff, D. Kyle Sampson — resigned yesterday, officials said, after acknowledging that he did not tell key Justice officials about the extent of his communications with the White House, leading them to provide incomplete information to Congress.
Lawmakers requested the documents as part of an investigation into whether the firings were politically motivated. While it is unclear whether the documents, which were reviewed yesterday by The Washington Post, will answer Congress’s questions, they show that the White House and other administration officials were more closely involved in the dismissals, and at a much earlier date, than they have previously acknowledged.
Seven U.S. attorneys were fired on Dec. 7 and another was fired months earlier, with little explanation from the Justice Department. Several former prosecutors have since alleged intimidation, including improper telephone calls from GOP lawmakers or their aides, and have alleged threats of retaliation by a Justice Department official.
But it's about to get even more interesting.
Congress has requested the presence and testimony of Karl Rove and Harriet Miers. And, of course, Congress is calling for Gonzales' head! [via memeorandum and Cursor]
Attorneygate Alberto Gonzales Harriet Miers Rove The Purge News Politics Fired Prosecutors Bush Gonzales Eight
