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Gonzales defends canning U.S attorneys, calls it "good management" Friday, Jan 19, 2007 By Steve Tetreault and Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Thursday declined to say how many U.S. attorneys are being removed from their jobs, but defended the practice to senators as "good management" to replace them with "the best possible people." Gonzales insisted that politics did not come into play in forcing turnover among the chief federal prosecutors, who are appointed by the president. Although pressed by Democrats during an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gonzales said he would not discuss individual cases. But when asked specifically about Arkansas, Gonzales said he had spoken twice to Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., about the appointment of former Republican political operative Tim Griffin as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District based in Little Rock. Griffin replaced Bud Cummins, who said he was forced to step down. At least six U.S. attorneys have been asked to resign, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., including two in that state, one in Nevada and Cummins. Democrats have expressed concern that a provision in the revised USA Patriot Act that passed last year would allow the attorney general to name long term replacements while circumventing the Senate confirmation process. Gonzales said 11 U.S. attorney vacancies have been created since the law was passed but he declined to say how many were forced resignations. The Bush administration official who is the nation's chief law enforcement official acknowledged that some of the chief prosecutors were asked to leave. "But that happens during every administration during different periods for different reasons," Gonzales said. "That fact that that happens quite frankly some people should view that as a sign of good management. What we do is make an evaluation about the performance of individuals and I have a responsibiity that we have the best possible people in that position. "I would never ever make a change in a United States attorney position for political reasons or that in any way would jeopardize an ongoing investigation," Gonzales said. "I just would not do it." Gonzales also said the administration plans to submit replacements to the Senate for confirmation although at least one - Griffin - has begun serving on an interim basis. Pryor said he called Gonzales in mid-December when he heard rumors that Griffin, then a special assistant to Cummins, would be appointed as a replacement. The attorney general confirmed the rumor. "He told me that the decision had been made and that's what he was going to do," Pryor said Thursday. "I didn't want to be a horse's you-know-what about it. I asked him what he meant. He said the intent was to send him through the normal confirmation process. He didn't tell me this was going to be one of those Patriot Act appointments." Pryor said Gonzales told him in a telephone conversation Wednesday that the Bush administration would send Griffin's nomination to the Senate. Pryor has not decided whether he would support Griffin. Griffin, a Magnolia native worked under Karl Rove in the White House and was director of opposition research. His legal credentials include a stint in the U.S. attorney's office in Little Rock in 2001-02, as a military prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Ky., and as a Judge Advocate General in Iraq. "I've expressed reservations about Tim Griffin because of his lack of his legal experience in Arkansas," Pryor said. "I still have that reservation about him." Pryor said his perception of Cummins' departure was that he was asked to leave to make room for Griffin. If so, that's "unfair," Pryor added. In Thursday's hearing, Gonzales would not respond to a specific question from Feinstein about the reason behind Cummins' departure, saying it would not be approrpiate to discuss personnel matters. Talking to reporters afterwards, Feinstein questioned whether the Patriot Act "is being used to put in people who want a reward or change for one reason or another, and they would never have to go through confirmation for the rest of the president's term. That is unacceptable." The California senator has focused her concern on Carol Lam, the departing U.S. attorney in San Diego who successfully prosecuted former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham on corruption charges. Feinstein said Lam was pursuing corruption cases against other federal lawmakers and staff, "so that raises the question" whether she was being forced to leave as a way to set back an investigation. "Now I am not accusing anybody but my suspicions are aroused particularly becuase the FBI says nothing but the highest things about this prosecutor," Feinstein said after the hearing. "I would kind of like to know." |
