Prosecutor says he was fired because he refused to "play ball" with the GOP

[CatWoman]

Yep, looks like there's nothing to this US Attorney firing thing.

Paul Kiel told you yesterday about New Mexico US Attorney David Iglesias who said his firing was a "political fragging" and that he was holding a press conference today.

Here's McClatchy just out on some of what he said ...

The U.S. attorney from New Mexico who was recently fired by the Bush administration said Wednesday that he believes he was forced out because he refused to rush an indictment in an ongoing probe of local Democrats a month before November's Congressional elections.

David Iglesias said two members of Congress separately called in mid October to inquire about the timing of an ongoing probe of a kickback scheme and appeared eager for an indictment to be issued on the eve of the elections in order to benefit the Republicans. He refused to name the members of Congress because he said he feared retaliation.

Two months later, on Dec. 7, Iglesias became one of six U.S. attorneys ordered to step down for what administration officials have termed "performance-related issues." Two other U.S. attorneys also have been asked to resign.

Iglesias, who received a positive performance review before he was fired, said he suspected he was forced out because of his refusal to be pressured to hand down an indictment in the ongoing probe.

"I believe that because I didn't play ball, so to speak, I was asked to resign," said Iglesias, who officially stepped down Wednesday.

You still think Carol Lam wasn't fired because she pushed the Duke-Wilkes-Foggo probe too far?


http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012701.php

[wakeme2008]

1. I have mixed feeling on this... While what was done IMHO was

wrong. All these people were Political Appointments in the first place and could be asked to resign at the request of the President...

[cascadiance]

8. Judges are also appointments by the president too...

... but that responsibility also carries more responsibility than just doing the president's bidding too. Though the hiring and firing of Attorney's is an executive function, we should remember who they are there to serve, and it is NOT only to serve Bush, I don't care what sort of B.S. is used to rationalize this! This is WHY these bums need to be impeached!

[robinlynne]

9. BUT new appointments are supposed to go through the senate. What is new here

is a clause in the new partriot act which says gonzalez can go around the senate. If these firings/hirings went through the senate, they might not have been accepted.

[nashville_brook]

12. political firings would NOT have been accepted...

that's why we require Senate approval... we live in ugly times.

[Morgana LaFey]

14. two things -- important things

first, the appointmenrts AND the performance is supposed to be nonpartisan and

second, the appointments used to go thru Senatorial confirmation -- recent legislation Bush requested changed that. Now they're abusing it.

Another point I'll throw in: the reason the appointments are supposed to be both nonpartisan and go thru confirmation is so we have a robust and NOT politically-charged and obeiscant law enforcement structure.

What's happening is so wrong and so frightening on so many levels that I can't even remain articulate on the subject. I'm aghast and appalled -- and scared. You talk about fascism, baby, this is IT. This isn't creeping fascism, this is full blown fascism.

[donkeyotay]

17. For all the caterwauling over activist judges, why is that term reserved

for instances where a judge upholds the law and Constitution over evangelicals' desire to impose their interpretation of law? Why isn't it considered judicial activism when the GOP tries to politicize law enforcement? Rhetorical question, but I agree with you that we are well past the "creeping" stage. Funny how the same people have been such consistent players in the transformation of our country.

[oldtimecanuk]

2. Question for the Lawyers out there... Do any of these Lawyers...

have a case for wrongful dismissal law suites? In maybe answering my own question, most of them resigned I bet huh?

ww

[AllegroRondo]

15. I dont think so

Im not a lawyer, but AFIK, you only have a case for wrongful dismissal if you were fired because of race, religion, gender, age, or handicap. Anything else falls under "at will employment".

[AndyA]

3. Republicans = Nazis. You vill do it our vey... n/m

[kansasblue]

4. ... wrong thread. delete

[izzie]

5. You do not cross Bush and Co.

They will put in party people good or bad. Did you see who they have put into head the Vets? A man who drags money from people. Just like the one that was running that out side part of Walter Reed. What a group of slimy people. Where have we heard about a political over view on everything? The one party state always does it. Lenin would be pleased with our govt. and how it is going.

[Double T]

6. More rethug dirty tricks in your face corruption...........

it will NEVER end.

[cascadiance]

7. Need to keep supporting these folks coming forward and fighting the good fight!

[w4rma]

10. The Republicans didn't push through the Patriot Act because they weren't planning on using it.

The Patriot Act was the Enabling Act that they had been planning to pull out when they had enough power to prevent the undoing of their pet law.

Instead, they are now having to use their pet law to keep themselves out of prison for breaking our laws.

[nashville_brook]

11. it would most likely be Repugs on the Judiciary Committee -- here you go:

my money is on John Kyl of Arizona and John Cornryn of Texas.



Arlen Specter
RANKING MEMBER, R-PENNSYLVANIA


Orrin G. Hatch
R-UTAH


Charles E. Grassley
R-IOWA


Jon Kyl
R-ARIZONA


Jeff Sessions
R-ALABAMA


Lindsey Graham
R-SOUTH CAROLINA


John Cornyn
R-TEXAS


Sam Brownback
R-KANSAS


Tom Coburn
R-OKLAHOMA

[EFerrari]

13. I hope people keep speaking up like this. They are brave

and we need to find a way to thank them for helping us save what remains of our "justice" system.

[Supersedeas]

16. Tom Deeelay tought his minions well