more genius analysis by the bushies, lol
"Nearly three weeks before seven US attorneys were asked to submit their resignations, the top spokesperson for the Department of Justice expressed little concern and told a senior White House official that the firings probably wouldn't even become a "national story."
The email conversations were revealed in an additional batch of 283 pages of documents turned over by the Bush Administration late Friday night to Congressional members investigating the rapidly developing scandal which some have dubbed "Attorneygate." One Justice official has already resigned, and many Democrats -- and even some Republicans -- have been calling for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to step down or be fired by President Bush, as well.
The communications between Tasia Scolinos, Director of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice, and Catherine J. Martin (pictured above), Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Communications Director for Policy and Planning, transpired on Friday, November 17, 2006, twenty days before the dismissals were carried out on December 7.
Catherine Martin had just been advised of the Justice plan, in an email sent to her along with Debbie Fiddelke, Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and Jeffery Scott Jennings, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director for Political Affairs, by Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel William Kelley a half-hour past noon. Concerned about "political juice" some of the Attorneys marked for termination may possess, Kelley was hoping that the other White House officials could help craft possible changes to the plan, which might help the Bush Administration withstand any consequential "fallout."
"The email below, and the attached document reflect a plan by DOJ to replace several US Attorneys," Kelley wrote. "By statute, US Attorneys serve for four year terms, which are commonly (but not always) extended by inaction -- in practice, they serve until replaced. They serve at the pleasure of the President, but often have very strong home-state political juice, including with their Senators."
Kelley added, "Before executing this plan, we wanted to give your offices a heads up and seek input on changes that might reduce the profile or political fallout. Thanks."
Less than an hour later, Martin asked Scolinos, "Are you looped in on this? What is your comms plan?"
"Thanks for flagging - we are not looped in - first I have heard of it," Scolinos replied. "Let me call up there and figure out what is happening here and get back to you."
Later that day, at 5:40 PM, Scolinos wrote back seemingly unconcerned with the plan since it was "only six" out of ninety-four US Attorneys being asked to leave.
"It's only six US attorneys (there are 94) and I think most of them will resign quietly - they don't get anything out of making it public they were asked to leave in terms of future job prospects," Scolinos wrote Martin.
Scolinos continued, "I don't see it as being a national story - especially if it phases in over a few months. Any concerns on your end?"" |
