http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/usattorney/ en-us Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:32:36 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134410/posts After six years fighting crime and sending some of the state's most well-known politicians to jail, New Jersey's corruption-fighting U.S. attorney announced Monday that he is stepping down. Christopher Christie, 46, who took office in January 2002, said his resignation was effective Dec. 1. An appointee of George W. Bush, Christie, a Republican, stood virtually no chance of keeping his job past Jan. 20, when Democrat Barack Obama is inaugurated as president. Christie has hinted at run for New Jersey governor in 2009, but has not formally declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination. Many Republicans are hoping Christie decides... ABC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134410/posts#comment Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:32:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2119203/posts Washington—As Senator Barack Obama, D-IL, measures the drapes in the Oval Office, one of his first reported moves is to fire and replace all 93 United States Attorneys on his first day. The decision comes from the Obama camp as it appears Senator John McCain has flamed out in the polls. With the election assured, Obama feels its time to flex his muscles and make the necessary announcements. And according to David Axelrod, Obama’s campaign strategist, “the election is over,” and it’s time to “implement change in America.” Elective Decisions http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2119203/posts#comment Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:40:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2104567/posts Ace has the exclusive, with flaming skull. US ATTORNEY IN OHIO TO FILE RICO ACTION AGAINST ACORN TOMORROW MORNING Sticky; Newer Posts Follow No link. Exclusive. Someone reliable tells me this. Oh, wait. I guess I have to say it: IMPACTING HARD… The Patriot Room http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2104567/posts#comment Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:24:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2060702/posts New York (AP) -- No criminal prosecutions are planned for former Justice Department officials accused of allowing politics to influence the hiring of prosecutors, immigration judges and other career government lawyers, Attorney General Michael Mukasey said Tuesday. Mukasey used his sharpest words yet to criticize the senior leaders who took part in or failed to stop illegal hiring practices during the tenure of his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales. But, he told delegates to the American Bar Association annual meeting, "Not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime. In this instance, the two joint reports found only... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2060702/posts#comment Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:46:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046176/posts Excerpt - In March 2007 the U.S. government charged Axion Corp., a small business in Huntsville, Ala., with illegally giving technical drawings for a Blackhawk helicopter part to manufacturers in China. The prosecutors seized Axion's assets and took away its government contract business. The company won an acquittal at trial a year later, but by that time, it was out of business. Axion is the latest in a string of aggressive prosecutions brought by Birmingham U.S. Attorney Alice Martin. Those prosecutions are marked by convictions overturned and innocent men wronged. Two judges have openly questioned whether she knowingly prosecuted innocent... The American Lawyer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046176/posts#comment Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:44:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2044039/posts Have any of you seen Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bush, on FOX news lately? He is a clever guy, isn't he? Indeed, quite brilliant in my eyes which makes me wonder why his name has such negative connotations, especially in the more liberal newspapers like the NY or LA Times. It seems the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is trying to obtain information from Mr. Rove concerning the firing of several U.S. Attorneys by the President. Now, the way I understand it, the President has the right to fire any U.S. attorney. (This isn't the... Political Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2044039/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:47:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019850/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Karl Rove, who had been one of President George W. Bush's top aides, was subpoenaed on Thursday to testify before a congressional panel investigating the administration's firing of nine federal prosecutors. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers issued the subpoena after months of failed efforts to get Rove to voluntarily testify under oath. The Judiciary Committee, like its Senate counterpart, has been investigating for more than a year the administration's dismissal of nine of the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys in 2006. Despite White House claims to the contrary, critics charge the firings were politically motivated,... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019850/posts#comment Thu, 22 May 2008 20:03:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2008721/posts Asked about the recent dismantling of a high-profile unit in the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles that specialized in public corruption cases, an office spokesman provided what some saw as a curious justification: Eliminating the public integrity and environmental crimes section, spokesman Thom Mrozek said, would actually enhance the effort to prosecute such cases. He explained that the unit's 17 lawyers would be farmed out to other sections in the office and that those types of cases would now be handled by a larger pool of attorneys, instead of by a select few. But in interviews with The Times,... L A Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2008721/posts#comment Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:19:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2006610/posts The Senate Ethics Committee says he should never have picked up the phone, but that it found no substantial evidence Sen. Pete Domenici tried to improperly influence an ongoing investigation when he called then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in October 2006. The committee made its finding in what it called a "Public Letter of Qualified Admonition" issed to the longtime Republican senator on Thursday. The ethics committee said Domenici should have known that his call "created an appearance of impropriety that reflected unfavorably on the Senate." Domenici, who plans to retire from the Senate after 36 years early next year, called... Albuquerque Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2006610/posts#comment Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:51:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994828/posts US Attorney Joseph Russoniello Petitioned: Prosecute Civil Rights Violators Written by Melanie Morgan    Monday, 31 March 2008 Breezy winds chilled the tempertures today as eight super-heated pro-troop supporters from around the Bay Area gathered in front of the United States Federal Building in San Francisco. Jim Minder, Sherry Perussina, Bryan Weldon, Kevin Graves, Catherine Moy, myself, Ryan Gill, Danny Gonzalez, Eamon and Elizabeth Kelly (and Buddy, the dog) stood in front of a podium at the fortified entrance to the US Attorney's office. (photo of Kevin Graves, Gold Star Father)Three television cameras, including Fox News Network, were on-hand to record our demand... MelanieMorgan.Com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994828/posts#comment Tue, 1 Apr 2008 02:26:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993299/posts BREAKING NEWS! Written by Melanie Morgan    Thursday, 27 March 2008 Move America Forward, the largest pro-troop grassroots organization in the country, is going on ‘offense’ in the situation involving our Military Recruiters in Berkeley, Ca. and across the United States.  It is long past time for the US government to involve itself in finding, arresting, and prosecuting those people responsible for attacking our service men and women involved in recruiting efforts to protect our country.   This Monday, we are going to the office of US Attorney Joseph Russoniello (First District of Northern California) to demand immediate action. It... MelanieMorgan.Com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993299/posts#comment Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:38:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1992864/posts Earlier this evening, Puerto Rico Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá addressed the island on today's 19 indictments against him from the local U.S. Attorney's office. Acevedo is charged with several crimes, among these violation of federal campaign-financing laws, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. The translated text of the Governor's speech follows: "These are hard and difficult times for the people of Puerto Rico. Our economy needs attention. I know your daily struggle with the increase in the cost of living and a slow economy that is affected by the increase in the price of oil and the recession in... El Nuevo Día (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1992864/posts#comment Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:42:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1937097/posts US to Drop Charge Against Ex-Prosecutor By COREY WILLIAMS December 9, 2007 DETROIT (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to drop the final charge against a former federal prosecutor acquitted of holding evidence from the defense in a major terrorism trial. In documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, the government asked that an obstruction of justice charge from a 2003 drug case be dismissed. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino had been accused of lying to a federal judge in that case. It is the last of four federal charges against Convertino, who... AP via Google http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1937097/posts#comment Sun, 9 Dec 2007 22:14:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918497/posts US: Ex-Prosecutor Should Be Convicted By DAVID RUNK DETROIT (AP) — A former federal prosecutor and an ex-State Department investigator wanted so badly to win convictions in the nation's first major terrorism trial after the Sept. 11 attacks that they broke the law themselves, a government attorney said Tuesday. "They crossed over the line from upholding the law to violating it," Eileen Gleason told jurors in closing arguments in the case against Richard Convertino and Harry Smith III. The two have pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice, making false declarations before a court and conspiracy. The defense... AP via Google http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918497/posts#comment Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:25:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1914449/posts The U.S. Inspector General may recommend criminal prosecution of departed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at the conclusion of an investigation, possibly as early as next month, the fired former U.S. attorney for Western Washington told a Spokane audience Friday.... McKay said he was summoned to Washington, D.C., in June and questioned for eight hours about possible reasons for his firing by investigators with the Office of Inspector General, who will forward their final report to Congress. “My best guess is it will be released sometime next month,’’ and likely will include recommendations for criminal prosecutions of Gonzales and maybe others,... Spokane Spokesman-Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1914449/posts#comment Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:20:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1898479/posts AN assistant US attorney from Florida has been arrested for allegedly flying to Michigan to have sex with a five-year-old girl. John D.R. Atchison, 53, was arrested after he participated in internet conversatons with a detective posing as a mother who was interested in letting men have sex with her young daughter, Associated Press reported. According to court documents, Atchison initiated the online chat on August 29. His correspondence with the detective lasted several weeks. At one point, Atchison allegedly said: "I'm always gentle and loving; not to worry; no damage ever; no rough stuff ever ever". He has been... news.au.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1898479/posts#comment Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:17:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1872655/posts Open letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy By Carlos Romero Barceló Dear Sen. Leahy: Ever since your first two years as senator and my last two years as mayor of San Juan (1975 & 1976), you have been one of the most supportive senators and best friends the city of San Juan and all of Puerto Rico have had in the U.S. Senate for the past 32-and-a-half years. I cannot recall a single instance when, as mayor of San Juan, or as governor of Puerto Rico—from January 1977 until January 1985—I called upon you for support on some issue important to... Caribbean Business http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1872655/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:18:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834122/posts WASHINGTON: On the night of March 10, 2004, a high-ranking Justice Department official rushed to a Washington hospital to prevent two White House aides from taking advantage of the critically ill Attorney General, John Ashcroft, the official testified on Tuesday. One of those aides was Alberto Gonzales, who was then White House counsel and eventually succeeded Ashcroft as Attorney General. "I was very upset," said James Comey, who was deputy Attorney General at the time, in his testimony Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I was angry. I thought I had just witnessed an effort to take advantage of a... International Herald Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834122/posts#comment Tue, 15 May 2007 22:00:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829072/posts Rove Saw Coaching of Prosecutor Witness WASHINGTON (AP) -- A senior Justice Department official who testified about performance shortcomings of several fired U.S. attorneys has told congressional investigators he was coached the day before at a White House meeting attended by political adviser Karl Rove. The witness, Associate Deputy Attorney General William Moschella, said he was urged during the dinner hour meeting on March 5 to publicly specify reasons for the dismissals, according to a transcript of the investigators' April 24 interview with him. Until the March 6 hearing before a House Judiciary subcommittee, Justice Department officials had said publicly... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829072/posts#comment Sun, 6 May 2007 03:02:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1826937/posts Excerpt - A deputy prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office in Little Rock has fantasies about owning this newspaper. Robert Govar of Lonoke — formerly chief of the criminal division in the U.S. attorney’s office in Little Rock who’s now been demoted — threatened to sue me last week over a column I wrote about him and his buddy Jay Campbell, the crooked cop who was sentenced to 40 years in prison, along with his wife Kelly, who received a 20-year sentence. The deputy prosecutor fired off an hysterical e-mail from his office, predicting he would win a $50 million... Arkansas Leader (excerpt) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1826937/posts#comment Wed, 2 May 2007 02:34:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821385/posts Dismissed U.S. attorney began Renzi probe FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., April 21 (UPI) -- A federal investigation into an Arizona congressman could put more pressure on the Bush administration in the flap over dismissed U.S. attorneys. Paul Charlton, who began the investigation into Republican Rep. Rick Renzi, was one of the eight federal prosecutors fired, The Wall Street Journal reported. United Press International http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821385/posts#comment Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:54:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821113/posts WASHINGTON (AP) -- Desperate for support among fellow Republicans, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced grim prospects Friday after a bruising Senate hearing that produced one outright call for resignation and a fistful of invitations and hints to quit. One GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, John Cornyn of Texas, predicted Gonzales would weather the furor and said he should. "Frankly, I don't think the Democrats are going to be satisfied with the resignation by Al Gonzales," he said. Gonzales gave no indication Friday that he was leaving. "Please know that as you continue your work, I am by your... nypost.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821113/posts#comment Sat, 21 Apr 2007 06:35:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821005/posts ...Gonzales had gone to Capitol Hill Thursday with just one mission: to placate Republican and Democratic senators dissatisfied with his account of how eight federal prosecutors were fired. Apparently, he failed. For the first time, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee broke ranks and said it might be best if Gonzales stepped down. "It is generous to say the attorney general's communications about this matter have been inconsistent," Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., told Gonzales in a packed hearing room Thursday. "The consequence should be the resignation of the attorney general." Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said in an interview after the hearing,... Examiner Minneapolis http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821005/posts#comment Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:36:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1820658/posts Judging by his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, there are three questions about the U.S. attorneys mess that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales wants answered: What did I know? When did I know it? And why did I fire those U.S. attorneys? As the day dragged on, it became clear — painfully clear to anyone who supports Gonzales — that the attorney general didn’t know the answers. Much of the time, he explained, he didn’t really know much at all — he was just doing what his senior staff recommended he do. Gonzales began the day with an apology.... The National Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1820658/posts#comment Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:44:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1820256/posts WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales confronted a fresh call for his resignation from a fellow Republican Thursday as he struggled to survive a bipartisan Senate challenge to his credibility in the case of eight fired prosecutors. Gonzales told the Oklahoma Republican he disagreed, and said he didn‘t think resigning would put the controversy to rest. Gonzales sat alone at the witness table in a crowded hearing room for the widely anticipated hearing. There was no doubt about the stakes involved for a member of President Bush ‘s inner circle, under pressure to resign since the dismissals of the prosecutors.... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1820256/posts#comment Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:34:41 GMT