The Firing Of US Attorneys - Who, What, When, Why?
In late 2006 (most on 7 December), the US Department of Justice fired eight US attorneys, an unprecedented act according to the legal community. It resulted in a firestorm of controversy. Learn about the players, what happened when, and why it's controversial.
In late 2006 (most on 7 December), the US Department of Justice fired eight US attorneys, an unprecedented act according to the legal community.
Overview and timeline of controversy over firing of eight US Attorneys; March 2007.
Monica Goodling is a Department of Justice official intimately linked to the firing of United States Attorneys, a scandal known as AttorneyGate.
In late 2006 (most on 7 December), the US Department of Justice fired eight US attorneys, an unprecedented act according to the legal community. Learn more about the issues surrounding the firing and the individuals involved.
Explore an annotated timeline of events leading up to the firing of eight US attorneys in December and the resulting aftermath.
Watching legislation be made can be ugly, as this tale of sly insertion in conference attests.
Test of SB 214 as reported in the Senate. It revokes the 2006 change giving the President power to appoint interim US Attorneys with no Constitutionally required Congressional oversight.
21 March 2007. In an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote (94-2-4), the Senate approved a Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) sponsored measure to "preserve the independence of United States attorneys."
15 March 2007. The Congressional Research Service reports that from 1981-2006, only two US Attorneys were clearly forced from their job, mid-term. That's two out of 486 -- and both were in the Reagan Administration
14 March 2007. Presidents Reagan and Clinton fired all 93 US Attorneys when they took office. Why Bush's eight is different.
12 March 2007. Weekend revelations about the mass firing of eight US attorneys implicate the White House and provide fuel for critics who believe the December pink-slip-fest reflects the worst of partisan politics. All those fired were Republicans. Just not Republican enough, it seems.
20 January 2007. The Patriot Act Reauthorization Bill of 2005 is news today because it has enabled the President -- through the office of the Attorney General -- to arrange for US Attorneys to resign and then to replace them with political appointees, in the pejorative sense of that phrase, who do not need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Deborah White - guide to US Liberals - examines the strong-arm rulings and stances of Alberto Gonzales.
Tom Head - guide to Civil Liberties - joins the New York Times in calling for Attorney General Gonzales to resign.
