Tim Griffin Resigns
President Bush appointed Griffin, 34, as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas after the Administration had language inserted in the Patriot Act Reauthorization Bill that eliminated Senatorial confirmation of replacement US Attorneys. Griffin had served as Karl Rove's "director of opposition research," and news reports suggest Rove and then White House Counsel Harriet Miers wanted Griffin in Arkansas.
In other news at the beleaguered Department of Justice, the Washington Post reports that the investigation into US Attorneys firings has expanded to include "hiring practices at the sprawling department, including the troubled Civil Rights Division and programs for beginning lawyers."
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has insisted that he is "fully committed to ensuring that with respect to every position we have a Senate-confirmed, presidentially appointed U.S. attorney."
However, as I pointed out last week, Griffin was appointed five months ago. Under "normal" rules of appointment, his term would have expired mid-April. Griffin publicly said he would resign rather than go through Senate confirmation.
The Arkansas Times had called for Griffin to resign.
See How Congress Changed The Rules on US Attorney Appointments.