SENATOR DIANE FEINSTEIN - Recently it came to my attention that the Department of Justice has asked several United States Attorneys from around the country to resign their positions, some by the end of this month, prior to the end of their terms, and not based on any allegation of misconduct. In other words, they are forced resignations. I've also heard that the . . . Attorney General plans to appoint replacements and potentially avoid Senate confirmation by leaving an interim U. S. Attorney in place for the remainder of the Bush administration.
Now how does this all happen? The department sought, and essentially was given . . . new authority under a little known provision in the Patriot Act to appoint interim appointments who are not subject to Senate confirmation and who could remain in place for the remainder of the Bush administration.
Now to date I know of seven U. S. Attorneys forced to resign without cause, without any allegations of misconduct. . . The public response has been shock. Peter Nunez, who served as the San Diego United States Attorney from 1982-88 has said "This is like nothing I've ever seen in my 35+ years." He went on to say that while the President has the authority to fire a U. S. Attorney for any reason, it is extremely rare unless there is an allegation of misconduct.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/16/154637/509
Progressive Review Reader WAYNE MANN reminds us that while Bush has fired seven US Attorneys, Bill Clinton fired all of them in order to make way for his selections. One more case where Clinton was the warm-up band for Bush.
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