Gonzales Allows Karl Rove-Protege To Remain As U.S. Attorney, Even Though His Term Has Expired

[maddezmom]

Gonzales Allows Karl Rove-Protege To Remain As U.S. Attorney, Even Though His Term Has Expired
On Jan. 18, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee, under oath, that he never intended to take advantage of a Patriot Act provision that allows the President to appoint “interim” U.S. attorneys for an indefinite period of time, without Senate confirmation:

I am fully committed, as the administration’s fully committed, to ensure that, with respect to every United States attorney position in this country, we will have a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed United States attorney.

Similarly, on Dec. 15, 2006, Gonzales personally assured Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) that Karl Rove-protege Tim Griffin would face Senate confirmation.

Before the Patriot Act was changed in 2005, the Attorney General could appoint interim U.S. attorneys to serve for a maximum of 120 days. After that time period, they needed to receive Senate confirmation or the federal district court in the vacant office’s district would name a replacement.

As emptywheel notes at Firedoglake, Griffin’s 120 days were up on April 20. Griffin has announced that he had “made the decision not to let my name go forward to the Senate.” Yet the Bush administration has not named a replacement candidate.

more:http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/17/griffin-120-days/

[Demeter]

1. He'll Take Over For Gonzales When the Pressure Gets Too High

Hope the Senate demands a special prosecutor, first.