Justice broadens investigation of Gonzales aides

[maddezmom]

Source: LATimes

The action follows testimony that politics had a role in hiring. The inquiry could further embarrass the attorney general.

By Richard B. Schmitt Los Angeles Times
Article Last Updated: 05/25/2007 03:23:24 AM MDT


Washington - The Justice Department has broadened an internal investigation examining whether aides to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales improperly took into account political considerations in hiring department employees, officials familiar with the investigation said Thursday.

The expanded investigation, conducted by the department's Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility, follows testimony Wednesday by former Gonzales aide Monica Goodling. She told a House committee that she considered party affiliation in screening applicants to become immigration judges.

The Justice Department also announced Thursday that it could find no record to support claims by Goodling in her testimony that taking politics into account in filling positions on the immigration bench had been approved by other department officials.

Goodling is under investigation for allegedly having violated federal civil- service rules and department policy for considering partisan political activity in conducting reviews of candidates for career prosecutor positions. She testified before the House Judiciary Committee under a grant of immunity from prosecution based on her comments.



Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5982384?source=rss

[madrchsod]

1. talk about being thrown under the bus...

[izzie]

2. It just sort of firms up what we have seen in every agency

I am willing to bet that Bush figured they had 4 more years to change all of the US govt. and to get it into a GOP far right leaning. Sort of a shock to some who voted for Bush to see you really need tax money to go to that nice hospital, and send your kids to college and do it all in a safe car on a nice road. And when every kid in town is in a school system every one is better off. It works just about the same in the DOJ. The rich bad guy is just as bad a the poor bad guy. And I grew up when every one in my family were really republicans and it is where I learned this stuff. I do not believe Bush pulled himself up by his boot straps any more than his father did. They all had help in this great country. Gonzales will be gone before Rowe. Any bets on that? Bush has sure left his mark on the DOJ and it will take years to get it fixed. He leaves a smell on every one.

[RedEarth]

3. Good news

[Doctor_J]

4. Gonzales IS the DoJ

isn't this sort of like, after the Gary Webb SJMN series, "CIA clears self in drug case"??