Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: longnshort who wrote (760699)	3/28/2007 9:22:24 PM
From: pompsander	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

Ex-Gonzales aide regrets how firings handled By Thomas Ferraro WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The firings of eight U.S. prosecutors "were properly made, but poorly explained," U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff said in testimony prepared for delivery to Congress on Thursday. Kyle Sampson said he conferred with the White House and Justice Department colleagues in a lengthy review that resulted in the dismissal last year of eight of the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys. But he said the matter was ultimately mishandled. "For my part in allowing what should have been a routine process of assuring the Congress that nothing untoward occurred to become an ugly, undignified spectacle, I want to apologize," Sampson said in his prepared remarks, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters. The disclosure of the dismissals has triggered a firestorm on Capitol Hill, fanned by charges that they were politically motivated and prompting calls that Gonzales step down. President George W. Bush has said he maintains confidence in Gonzales, but a number of his fellow Republicans have joined Democrats in saying he should go. Sampson, who recently resigned as a result of the flap, was to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating the ousters. The administration contends the firings were justified and largely performance-related or involved policy differences. Critics charge the prosecutors seem to have been fired because they were too tough on Republicans, too easy on Democrats and inadequately loyal to the administration. Sampson said U.S. attorneys are judged on more than their "professional skills, but also their management abilities, their relationship with law enforcement and other government leaders, and their support for the priorities of the president and attorney general." POLITICS OR PERFORMANCE? Sampson added: "The distinction between 'political' and 'performance-related' reasons for removing a U.S. attorney is, in my view, largely artificial." The Justice Department said on Wednesday that a letter that Sampson helped draft and that was sent to congressional leaders last month contained inaccurate information. The Feb 23. letter stated the Justice Department was not aware of White House aide Karl Rove playing any role in the decision to appoint his former aide, Tim Griffin, to replace one of the fired prosecutors in Arkansas. However, documents released by the Justice Department earlier this month showed that Sampson wrote an e-mail in December stating that getting Griffin appointed was important to Rove. Sampson, in his prepared testimony, said he and others at the Justice Department had mishandled questions from Congress about the dismissals. "The truth of this affair as I see it is this: the decisions to seek the resignations of a handful of U.S. attorneys were properly made but poorly explained," Sampson said. Sampson said he considered each of those ousted a "wonderful lawyer," but noted they all served at the pleasure of the president and that to his knowledge none were ousted for "an improper reason." The Senate panel, along with one in the House of Representatives, last week authorized subpoenas for Rove and other White House aides if they refused to testify voluntarily as part of the congressional investigations. Bush has vowed to oppose any attempt to compel aides to provide sworn testimony. He has offered instead that they talk with lawmakers behind closed doors, without a transcript and not under oath. Democrats have refused, and have sought a compromise.