Report concludes grudge with Bond’s office led to ouster of Todd Graves as U.S. attorney

[proud2BlibKansan]

A report Monday blistered the Bush administration for firing nine U.S. attorneys in 2006, calling the dismissals “serious failures” that “severely damaged the credibility” of the Justice Department.

Among those fired in the purge was Todd Graves, who was then the U.S. attorney for Missouri’s Western District. Graves on Monday received an extraordinary apology from Sen. Kit Bond — whose office was implicated in Graves’ dismissal.

The report did not claim any specific criminal violations but concluded “the process … was fundamentally flawed.”

The Justice Department’s offices of Inspector General and Professional Responsibility wrote the report.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey said he would appoint a special prosecutor, Nora Dannehy, to examine the report’s most serious accusations.

In the document — about 400 pages — investigators attacked the decision to fire the attorneys and the department’s statements when those firings became public.

The document reviewed Graves’ ouster, which occurred months before the other eight U.S. attorneys were replaced.

The conclusion: Bond’s staff wanted Graves out because of a dispute with his brother, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri.

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/819652.html

[Supersedeas]

1. nothing to see here -- the release of this report of perfectly time, so move right along please