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Former Bush aide named to U.S. attorney post Saturday, Dec 16, 2006 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - A former Republican political operative and top aide to President Bush was named late Friday as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The appointment of Tim Griffin drew criticism from Arkansas senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, both Democrats. Pryor accused the Bush administration of circumventing the traditional nomination process on behalf of a political ally. The open-ended appointment differs from a normal presidential selection, where Griffin would face Senate hearings and a confirmation vote. Pryor believes the Senate should be able to quiz Griffin about his qualifications, especially given his background as Bush's deputy director of political affairs under Karl Rove, spokesman Michael Teague said. Before that, Griffin worked in opposition research for the Republican National Committee. "We hope it's not the White House's intention to go around the Constitution, go around the nomination process and reward a fellow who's done some political work for them," Teague said. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, defended the appointment. He said Griffin might face unfair treatment from Senate Democrats because of his political ties. "There might be a tendency because he did work for the president in that capacity politically to hold that against him and not look at the fact he's very well-qualified," said Boozman, the only Republican in the state's congressional delegation. "In going before the Senate, there are all kinds of politics," Boozman said. Griffin, 38, will take over for Bud Cummins, who resigns Wednesday. The Eastern District includes Little Rock and 41 counties in the eastern and north central part of Arkansas. Griffin on Friday declined to comment on his appointment. The Magnolia native just completed a year of active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve, including a stint in Iraq. He is a major in the Judge Advocate General's corps. A graduate of Hendrix College and Tulane University law school, he worked as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the eastern district in 2001-02. The interim selection leaves open the possibility for Bush to officially appoint Griffin or someone else to the post sometime in the future. Conceivably, Griffin could serve as interim U.S. attorney indefinitely. Teague said Pryor hopes the president makes a permanent selection - subject to Senate confirmation - after Congress reconvenes in January. If Bush acts on a nomination before Congress returns, the appointee would serve as a "recess appointment" and Senate confirmation would not be required until the next congressional session in two years. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and White House Counsel Harriet Miers gave Pryor no time frame for when Bush might select a permanent replacement, Teague said. Teague said Pryor was not available to comment because he was at the hospital visiting Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., who underwent brain surgery this week. Pryor supports full Senate hearings for the next U.S. attorney and did not rule out support for Griffin. "He very well may be the person," qualified to serve, Teague said, but "he should have to go through the normal nomination process." Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said in a statement that she was impressed by Cummins' work and his service. Lincoln said she also would expect Bush to replace Cummins through the normal Senate confirmation process. Teague said the timing of the announcement late Friday afternoon gave the appearance that the administration was attempting to keep the appointment quiet. "His actions are always going to be suspect if you're not going to do this in the right way and in an open manner," Teague said. "It's hard to say if you're going to support or not support someone if you don't go through the process of who they are." A report by the BBC in 2004 connected Griffin to a possible effort to disenfranchise black voters in Florida. The report said an e-mailed list of 1,886 names was to be used to challenge residents' voting status. In a November 2000 Time magazine report, Griffin was depicted as a zealous researcher who sought to discredit Democratic candidate Al Gore at any opportunity. The magazine said a poster hanging behind Griffin's desk said: "On my command - unleash hell on Al." Boozman said the time in Iraq and as a prosecutor shows there is more to Griffin than just his political background. "I think he is a very intelligent guy who's done a lot of different things. He's going to do well," Boozman said. |
