Firings and a Resignation

Well, it has not received the press I think it deserved, but former deputy attorney general James B. Comey has testified this week that he regarded the eight US attorneys dismissed by the Bush Administration as some of the most competent prosecutors in the country. In particular, he stated that John McKay of Seattle, Daniel Bogden of Nevada, and our own Paul Charlton of Arizona were outstanding professionals who could not possibly have been fired on grounds of performance. About Charlton he stated, "One of the best."

He praised the others as well.

This is exactly what it looks like it is, and it is disgusting.

Directly from the 5/3/2007 NY Times article: Mr. Comey testified a day after Justice Department officials said the agency had opened an internal inquiry into whether Monica M. Goodling, a former senior aide to Mr. Gonzales, had sought to screen applicants for jobs as career prosecutors to determine their political loyalty to the Bush administration.

In a letter on Thursday to the department, Ms. Goodling’s lawyer, John M. Dowd, said she would refuse to cooperate with the internal investigation, citing her constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. The letter was written to the department’s inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility, which are jointly conducting the inquiry.

Ms. Goodling had previously refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee, which has voted to grant her immunity from prosecution to obtain her testimony about her role in the dismissals.

Well, Sirocco, you may not have to be as patient as I had planned. My resignation was announced this week to a very select and appropriate few. Surprising me, they chose to let this hit a major hub of the network at about 1 PM this afternoon. I had speculated a more secretive and slower release of information, but apparently (and I don't care) they are choosing sooner as opposed to later in terms of letting folks know. Yesterday, two people knew. Tonight, the number has grown to at least 30.

The Tucson Town Hall starts Sunday evening.

I had anticipated the press release at end of month. Now I am thinking end of next week. No delusions of importance here, but this is more than a fruit picker choosing to move on to Circle K.

Anonymous, please keep your mouth shut.