The report:
As anticipated by the Washington Post Sunday night, a report issued Monday by the Department of Justice's Inspector General faults top department officials for their conduct in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys in 2006, though it stops short of recommending a grand jury for former attorney general Alberto Gonzales.
But that does not mean the saga is over and done with.
In its conclusion to a 392-page report still being digested by Congress, the DOJ Inspector General's office said that serious questions remain regarding the firing of New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, who reported receiving phone calls from Republican Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson. Iglesias has said he took the GOP officials' attention as being related to an ongoing corruption investigation against a New Mexico Democrat before the 2006 elections.
"The most serious allegation that we were not able to fully investigate related to the removal of David Iglesias, the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, and the allegation that he was removed to influence voter fraud and public corruption prosecutions," the report's conclusion reads. "We recommend that a counsel specially appointed by the Attorney General assess the facts we have uncovered, work with us to conduct further investigation, and ultimately determine whether the evidence demonstrates that any criminal offense was committed with regard to the removal of Iglesias or any other U.S. Attorney, or the testimony of any witness related to the U.S. Attorney removals."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy is open to the idea of appointing a prosecutor to further investigate the issue. In a quickly issued statement Monday morning, the Vermont Democrat said: "I will look carefully at the report's recommendation that a prosecutor continue to explore these troubling facts, including inaccurate testimony to Congress, whether Attorney General Gonzales tried to shape the testimony of other Department officials, and the extent of White House involvement. Perhaps a prosecutor can break down walls others cannot."
The DOJ's own investigation did not enjoy the subpoena power of an outside prosecutor. And the report reflects evidence that the investigation suffered as a result, claiming at one point that the Bush administration's refusal to provide a particular document "hampered" the IG's investigation.
The report:
But that does not mean the saga is over and done with.
In its conclusion to a 392-page report still being digested by Congress, the DOJ Inspector General's office said that serious questions remain regarding the firing of New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, who reported receiving phone calls from Republican Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson. Iglesias has said he took the GOP officials' attention as being related to an ongoing corruption investigation against a New Mexico Democrat before the 2006 elections.
"The most serious allegation that we were not able to fully investigate related to the removal of David Iglesias, the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, and the allegation that he was removed to influence voter fraud and public corruption prosecutions," the report's conclusion reads. "We recommend that a counsel specially appointed by the Attorney General assess the facts we have uncovered, work with us to conduct further investigation, and ultimately determine whether the evidence demonstrates that any criminal offense was committed with regard to the removal of Iglesias or any other U.S. Attorney, or the testimony of any witness related to the U.S. Attorney removals."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy is open to the idea of appointing a prosecutor to further investigate the issue. In a quickly issued statement Monday morning, the Vermont Democrat said: "I will look carefully at the report's recommendation that a prosecutor continue to explore these troubling facts, including inaccurate testimony to Congress, whether Attorney General Gonzales tried to shape the testimony of other Department officials, and the extent of White House involvement. Perhaps a prosecutor can break down walls others cannot."
The DOJ's own investigation did not enjoy the subpoena power of an outside prosecutor. And the report reflects evidence that the investigation suffered as a result, claiming at one point that the Bush administration's refusal to provide a particular document "hampered" the IG's investigation.
The report:
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 3:28 PM
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