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Prosecutor Purge: Number Eight?
It seems that U.S. Attorney Margaret Chiara of Michigan's Western District is the eighth prosecutor to have been fired by the administration in recent months.
In a press release today, Chiara, who was nominated by President Bush in September, 2001, only said that she was resigning and that she'd step down March 16th. But according to The Grand Rapids Press, a district judge claims that Chiara was fired as part of the administration's wider purge:
The Justice Department has recently fired seven U.S. attorneys across the country. Chiara is the latest victim in the shake-up, U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell said this morning."I was shocked to learn that her resignation had been requested," Bell said. "She's clearly part of a larger pattern."
The paper notes that Chiara had clashed with the administration on the death penalty before, which she opposes, but there's no apparent reason for her resignation.
Update: I just spoke with Judge Bell, who says that he has no knowledge about whether Chiara was asked to step down: " I was not privy to what happened here with her," he told me, "I just got her resignation letter myself late yesterday." He said that he planned to "clarify" his remarks to the paper.
But he did say that Chiara was an "exemplary" U.S. Attorney in "every sense of the word" and "one of the best USAs we've ever had here." Her resignation, he said, certainly raised questions about whether it was tied into the other firings.
Later Update: Here is the only section of the press release from Chiara's office that deals with her stepping down (the remainder discusses her accomplishments in office):
United States Attorney Margaret M. Chiara announced that she is resigning her position as United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan effective March 16, 2007. Ms. Chiara was nominated by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, and she was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 23, 2001. She is the first woman in the history of the State of Michigan to serve as a United States Attorney. Ms. Chiara intends to remain in public service.
What does it mean that she "intends to remain in public service?" Certainly sounds like she doesn't have a job lined up. A spokesperson for her office declined to elaborate beyond the release.
So-Late-It's-The-Next-Day-Update: The Washington Post reports: "Sources familiar with the case confirmed that she was among a larger group of prosecutors who were first asked to resign Dec. 7."
Comments (16)
Mimir wrote on February 23, 2007 3:34 PM:Will Fitz be #9?
reese wrote on February 23, 2007 3:45 PM:Let's see...
penney wrote on February 23, 2007 4:05 PM:Idealogical judges all the way to the Supreme Court, a bastardized habeas corpus, warrantless surveillance of US citizens phone calls and email...
The pieces are being put in place.
In the future, we will be free to be publicly religious, free to agree with the government, free to work without labor representation and free to live without healthcare.
Can't wait. Please kill me now.
Mimir,
exactly my thought, especially after reading the WaPo article which included this:
"Former senator Fred Thompson said that win or lose, Fitzgerald will be judged as a prosecutor run amok who chased petty political crimes "to the ends of the Earth."
Perhaps Thompson has forgotten Kenneth Starr who curely set the standard.
jeffgee wrote on February 23, 2007 4:19 PM:Is this part of the plan to dilute the firing of Carol Lam with other firings, designed to give some up-and-coming prosecutors some job experience to buff their resumes?
nofltwlt wrote on February 23, 2007 4:44 PM:Impeach this entire administration before it is too late.
The purse strings of liberty are drawn very tight; a little flick of the wrist could extinguish the liberty of Americans forever if this evil administration isn't stopped.
Citizen92 wrote on February 23, 2007 4:53 PM:Never would I have pictured the day where Democrats lament the firing of politically-appointed Bush US Attorney.
Or that there would be two types of politically-appointed Bush US Attorneys -- those who that do their jobs and bring convictions, and those who are cronies who are "being made way for."
What's next?
markg8 wrote on February 23, 2007 5:08 PM:reese,
Only if I can have your healthcare policy. ;-)
RJM wrote on February 23, 2007 5:18 PM:The Dems in Illinois would be more than happy to see Fitzgerald go away. Any damage Fitzgerald has done to the Bush Administration is already done.
Dharma Pup wrote on February 23, 2007 5:59 PM:Of course they're setting the stage ... with the incredible executive power this president has gradually collected to himself and his office over the past six years, do you honestly believe he'll simply step down in January 2009 and hand all that power over to his Democrat successor? Isn't it possible that he'll declare martial law (which he can do more easily now, thanks to his recent actions/edicts) for some trumped-up "anti-terrorist" reasons and declare the 2008 elections null and void?
They're setting the stage ...
reese wrote on February 23, 2007 6:06 PM:dharma pup:
Michael Dunn wrote on February 23, 2007 8:23 PM:I've often wondered why Republicans would so whole-heartedly support this expansion of executive powers in the face of the possibility of seeing them wielded one day by Democrat...
But you know, you're probably right... they don't worry 'cause there aren't going to be any more elections...
Paranoia? We'll see...
Iran and Syria will both be this presidents excuse for calling off the elections and declaring marshall law.
LALAWETTE wrote on February 23, 2007 8:53 PM:This sorry group of individuals in the White House are profiting off of the war to much to just give it all up.
Someone should go interview Kenneth Starr about how he feels about this purge. He's sitting over as the dean of the conservative Christian Pepperdine Law School.
Alfonso Nedoya wrote on February 24, 2007 12:51 AM:>>> Will Fitz be #9?
Was the Pope a Hitler Youth?
Karen wrote on February 24, 2007 11:32 AM:I can't help but wonder what the Bushies are using to make all these prosecutors "resign"? They seem to be making them "an offer they can't refuse": Resign or else. What is the "or else"?
Richard L. Adlof wrote on February 25, 2007 5:31 PM:Isn't the grand-bringer of the wonderous holiday of Fitzmas operating as a Special Prosecutor at this time . . . and therefore outside DoJ pervue until his investigation is complete?
Richard L. Adlof wrote on February 25, 2007 5:32 PM:Isn't the grand-bringer of the wonderous holiday of Fitzmas operating as a Special Prosecutor at this time . . . and therefore outside DoJ pervue until his investigation is complete?