[fooman]

Should Hatfill prove to be innocent, I hope that Ashcroft has to give up his salary and gov pension to him for life.

AND Hatfill should also get a gov job on terrorism.

I like ashcroft, but I think he should bear responsibility for his mistakes, especially since they have ruined this man's life.

[APBaer]

"Should Hatfill prove to be innocent, I hope that Ashcroft has to give up his salary and gov pension to him for life."

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.
It is virtually impossible to sue the government or individual government agents like Ashcroft.

There is sovereign immunity, left over from the concept that "the king can do no wrong," and sure as hell can't be sued in his own courts.

And there is qualified immunity for Ashcroft and all the other employees. Plus, even if there were not, the government could withhold on "nation security grounds" what would be needed to bring a case.

You might remember that in the Richard Jewell affair, he collected from the media, not the government.