Comments (41)

Occulize wrote on March 13, 2007 2:57 PM:

Maybe not exactly the same as Karl but...

...no, wait, he's exactly the same.

melandell wrote on March 13, 2007 3:02 PM:

i tried to find info on this guy. my reaction to his photo today is that he looks awfully young. any links to a bio on him? when and where did he go to law school? where did he work after that?

Anonymous wrote on March 13, 2007 3:07 PM:

So how did Sampson lose out to Brett Tolman for the US Attorney job in Utah? Sampson was the White House's choice!!

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on March 13, 2007 3:15 PM:

melandell, Read today's NYT story, "Fast-Riser’s High Hopes and Sudden Fall" by Eric Lipton which profiles Sampson's career.

From the NYT:

"...He arrived in Washington in 1999, around his 30th birthday, with impeccable credentials — at least for a man his age — among religious conservatives. A native of Utah and a Mormon, he had completed his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University. Mr. Sampson then followed the lead of Dallin H. Oaks, the former president of Brigham Young, by attending the University of Chicago for law school, another bastion of conservatism..."

james wrote on March 13, 2007 3:18 PM:

So the question is, if he can succeed in the White House as a Mormon, is all that hubub about Romney just media spin?

daCascadian wrote on March 13, 2007 3:18 PM:

He`s one of Orrin Hatch`s minions

"...This is not a game." - Lorie Van Auken (2001.09.11 widow)

Citizen 92 wrote on March 13, 2007 3:22 PM:

Yet according to this article, in February 2006, Kyle Sampson and Brett Tolman were both competing for the US Attorney slot in Utah.

http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_049180925.html

In a nutshell:

Sampson was the White House's choice.

Tolman was Spector's, Hatch's, Frist's, McConnell's and DeWine's choice.

Tolman (while working for Spector) apparently was key in inserting the provision that allowed DOJ to appoint US Attorneys on an indefinite interim basis. That happened in March 2006.

And now today Tolman is the US Attorney for Utah.

How did this happen? What was the quid pro quo?

SOH wrote on March 13, 2007 3:30 PM:

Citizen 92:

Isn't it obvious?

Citizen92 wrote on March 13, 2007 4:10 PM:

Why did Spector et al go to such extraordinary lengths to get Tolman in there?

Did they think it was just going to be a cake walk and no one would notice the Specter provision? Did Spector or Hatch make a romantic pass at their golden boy?

It just sure seems like a lot of trouble.

But of course I now understand Specter's comments that "one day there will be a new AG" -- effectively, Specter to Alberto, "your staff screwed up our deal -- and you're going to take the fall..."

Cyril Blair wrote on March 13, 2007 4:11 PM:

I didn't think that was a flattering NYT profile. It made him seem like a sycophantic dweeb! With an unbelievable amount of chutzpah, wanting to be a U.S. Attorney without having any prosecutorial experience, wtf??

Anonymous wrote on March 13, 2007 4:21 PM:

Al Kamen's article quoted above "Waiting in the Wings"... refers to a physical likeness between Rove and Sampson and includes matching pictures of Rove and Sampson with similar dress/background. The initial post in this chain is misleading.

MB Williams wrote on March 13, 2007 4:25 PM:

Sampson, while he was at the White House, was involved in the 2002 firing of Special Trustee for American Indians Tom Slonaker, after Slonaker refused to water down his criticism of Norton's so-called Indian Trust "reform". Cobell plaintiffs sought to compel Sampson, along with two DoJ attorneys, Interior Dep. Sec. (and now target of a DoJ probe) J. Steven Griles, Norton's CoS Brian Waidmann to be deposed on the firing, according to DoJ documents at the time. It's all part and parcel of the larger subversion of justice (and Justice) surrounding the IIM accounts and Cobell v. Norton (now Kempthorne.)

Ian wrote on March 13, 2007 4:26 PM:

None of this would have been possible without the rule change that was inserted into the Patriot Act. At first I thought it was just Specter, but it seems as though that at least two other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee were involved. What will happen there? There is a Legislative component to all this--its not just an Executive branch conspiracy.

This is racketeering not good governance. Time to break out the RICOH book. I know there's no way they'd appoint Fitz, but there's a need for an honest, non-partisan Special Prosecuter, but watch them try to stack that.

Tsop wrote on March 13, 2007 4:27 PM:

Somewhere, Rove is probably even enjoying this guy twisting in the wind.

alex wrote on March 13, 2007 4:37 PM:

Each Republican official or staffer that has gotten their 15 minutes of fame thrust upon them in the past few years just adds so much to the tapestry of ridiculousness that is Karl Rove's permanent Republican majority.

Imagine that in no part of his definition of this concept is competence.

Anonymous wrote on March 13, 2007 4:45 PM:

"We are blessed with the best system of government in the world," Sampson says. "The founding fathers were truly wise men raised up to establish the Constitution."

Working long days for President Bush, Sampson often returns home just in time to read to his children and put them to bed. "There is a small moment in time when I can engage in this sort of public service," says Sampson. "I know it will come to an end, so that makes the long hours worthwhile."

http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=1251

mbbsdphil wrote on March 13, 2007 4:58 PM:

The NYT's article described Kyle as a 37-year old political appointee who had a good run with his people skills, looks, and loyalty. NOT his legal experience. Like many Bush League appointees, Kyle's academic experience was impressive, but his actual experience was limited. In fact, Gopher material, like Brett Kavanaugh.

Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of resume the administration has been appointing to our most important judgeships, eg, Brett Kavanaugh on the DC Circuit. Like Kavanaugh, Kyle's jobs were mostly limited to screening other candidates for federal office, especially US Attorneys and judges. That is, concurrently massaging the White House and the Senate.

Also like Kavanaugh, Kyle confused being the admiral's junior ensign with having the experience to command a fleet. (Except that in Kavanaugh's case, despite standing out as the weak reed among the legal oaks, a cooperative Republican Senate did appoint him to the DC Circuit last May.)

Kyle had his eye on the US Attorney slot in Nevada, his home state, an appointment that would have catapulted him into the top ranks of state politics, while keeping one foot on the national stage. These jobs require having been in court, having personally handled complex federal civil and/or criminal litigation, managed large numbers of people, advocated for scarce resources in competition with other equally hungry bureaucrats, etc. Kyle has none of that experience.

The good news for federal investigators is that Kyle likes to be direct and frank in his e-mails. Naively so. These make clear that Mr. Gonzales will have to pretend that his memory is as bad as Mr. Magoo's to escape removal from office. Even then, like Libby, all road's still lead to the White House.

mbbsdphil wrote on March 13, 2007 5:07 PM:

Congress' investigative arm should start now to staff its digital forensics division. After the US Attorney scandal, expect stringent new White House rules about records retention. There may be thousands of willing bureaucratic knights who will take too literally Mr. Rove's lament of "Who will rid me of this computer drive?"

Anonymous wrote on March 13, 2007 5:07 PM:

Kyle is from Utah... He was edged out of the US Attorney job in Utah by Brett Tolman. Tolman was the guy that put the Patriot language in the conference report.

mbbsdphil wrote on March 13, 2007 5:13 PM:

Thanks for the correction, and excuse my confusing Utah with Nevada. I stand by the rest.

aflounder wrote on March 13, 2007 6:23 PM:

Just heard Senator Leahy interviewed on NPR talking about Sampson, how he had supposedly resigned, but was still there.

unpoetaloco wrote on March 13, 2007 7:51 PM:

I'll bet anything the word to sacrifice Sampson came from Rove. 1) Someone had to go; 2) Sampson's name was on emails; 3) Rove didn't like the thought that Sampson's name was floated as his replacement; 4) Rove doesn't like dough boys like himself. He prefers military types like Jeff Gannon and Matt Sanchez.

wdot wrote on March 13, 2007 9:34 PM:

I'm a devout Christian (Presbyterian, which shouldn't matter) and also a fairly influential Department of Justice attorney. If I came into the public eye because of an official decision I made or influenced, is there any reason why my faith would factor into the analysis?

Christian Against Bush wrote on March 13, 2007 10:15 PM:

Why does this administration and its apologists keep using Bill Clinton as the gold standard for their behavior? Did I live through the same 1990's as they or was it all just some horrible nightmare? Could this be the same Bill Clinton who could do no right -- our nation's long horrible nightmare -- or is the Bill Clinton who is now the model of presidential behavior?

Republicans, neo-cons and their apologists cannot have it both ways. By the way, this is the defense of a fifth grader: Johnny did it first!
That notwithstanding. . . . . Their apologists do not understand the difference between a political appointment and doing the job of a political hack. This administration and its defenders-at-any-cost do not understand: while one may be appointed by the President (hopefully based on experience and qualifications for the specific job) one pledges allegiance to the Constitution and the nation above that to the president.

For anyone who does not understand the difference, listen to the the interviews of Bud Cummins (one of the fired U.S. Attorneys) and Dahlia Lithwick (a legal analyst) who do understand. They can be found on the NPR program Day to Day on March 13, 2007.

A final point: This administration continues compare itself to CEOs in the business world, and to make much of the president as CEO. Well, in any business I have been employed in, he and his incompetent cronies would have been fired. First, most would not have been hired due to the shoddy nature of their backgrounds and resumes, but when it became so apparent that they can not perform at least to the minimum requirements of the job, they would have been shown the door. This CEO president believes in both corporate welfare and the affirmative action for the least qualified. They are fully employed by his administration.

The replacement for Bud Cummins as U.S. Attorney for Arkansas was Karl Rove's protege who had no prior experience as a prosecutor.

AlanDownunder wrote on March 13, 2007 10:22 PM:

Compensatory behaviour I can understand, but there are limits.

hct wrote on March 13, 2007 10:32 PM:

He worked under Orrin Hatch. Need we say anything more. This is the same Orrin Hatch who changed rules when the Repubs got in power on the Judiciary. The same Orrin Hatch under which the Dem. emails/strategy was stolen by the Repubs. Oh, and BTW I didn't watch Abu's presser. Did his nose grown longer as the presser went along.

Chitown wrote on March 14, 2007 2:00 PM:

wdot wrote:

I'm a devout Christian (Presbyterian, which shouldn't matter) and also a fairly influential Department of Justice attorney. If I came into the public eye because of an official decision I made or influenced, is there any reason why my faith would factor into the analysis?

If you loudly said your religious beliefs would frame your tasks, as did Mr Sampson (can we call him "mini-blossom"?) then yeah, that would factor into the analysis.

I have to figure that somewhere along the line, Mr Sampson was told by his God that as long as he was doing the work of higher power, then ethical lapses are absolutely forgivable. That's the only way I can reconcile this heavy-duty devotion to God and what appear to be pre-meditated breaking of laws. Show me a religious zealot and I'll show you someone arrogant enough to think that God comes down and speaks to him/her.

Loveland wrote on March 14, 2007 4:08 PM:

He also served a 2 year LDS mission to Minnesota Minneapolis around 1998-1991

Renee Nelson wrote on March 16, 2007 4:14 PM:

OK, I'm no scholar, and I am impressed with Mr. Sampson's credentials, but the physical resemblance to Karl Rove is beyond humorous. It kind of stopped me in my tracks. It plays to my recently accumulated beliefs that the real world is a lot more like the X-Files than is comfortable to think about. Also, as an aside to the posts about Mormonism, I need to read up on it more, I will admit, but it is my understanding that the Mormon church was founded by Freemasons whose "secrets", i.e., the basis for their doctrines, are derived heavily from the ancient pagan Mystery schools and Gnosticism. The underpinnings of what is going on in the world is starting to be exposed, and while I would not vilify anyone for their religion alone, I would personally question whether I would want a Mormon president, or want to stand with a Mormon and call him or her my Christian brother or sister. The same goes for a Skull and Bonesman. I have ceased letting anyone get away with calling President Bush an evangelical Christian in my presence without telling all that I know about that brotherhood.

Barbara wrote on March 17, 2007 10:14 AM:

So the question is, if he can succeed in the White House as a Mormon, is all that hubub about Romney just media spin?

Posted by: james
Date: March 13, 2007 03:18 PM

I have a friend who used to go to a large Mormon church in DC and he said that many, many of them have "infiltrated" the federal government and are doing so with a purposeful conservative agenda. I know this is gossip, but from someone I personally consider to be an honest source.

ash wrote on March 22, 2007 9:38 PM:

The reason why conservatives have their panties in a wad about Mitt Romney is because a majority of right-wingers here in the South view Mormonism with the same skepticism that most of the country views Scientology--kookie and cultish. I don't necessarily agree with that viewpoint, but most right wing Evangelicals don't consider them Christians. More moderate Christians I am sure will give them a pass, but I have attended a few major Southern Baptist churches in my area, and they all regard Mormons as cultish, and should be ministered to, so they can be converted to their version of Christianity. (That's why the Southern Baptist Convention chose Salt Lake City for their annual meeting one year recently) Thankfully, I am no longer a Southern Baptist for many reasons. Just wanted to provide yall with some insight into the thought processes of the more conservative people down here.

Jimmy wrote on March 29, 2007 11:57 AM:

I know Mr. Sampson personally. He is a good man, with a honest heart.

As far as Mormonism goes, he is not the first or will be be the last to work in DC. People fear what they don't understand. In their mis-understanding they can grasp at some of the strangest falsehoods and rumors. If you don't know about the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (Mormon Church) as a member to tell you about it. There is nothing secret or evil about it. They believe in Jesus Christ, they follow his commandments and live his teachings. They look forward to His second comming with faith and hope. Joseph Smith was good man, who was killed by the same type of people who hate the Church today, in hopes it would stop the growth of the church, kill their faith. Since their faith was NOT based on Joseph Smith the man, rather Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior, the Church lives on today and will continue growing into the future.

All I can say is that I'm sure everything will work out for Kyle in the end. He's a good man.

Chris wrote on March 29, 2007 7:05 PM:

I dated him while attending BYU. He made me pay for the dates! Wonder if he would ever pay me back....

Morgan wrote on March 31, 2007 12:36 AM:

Kyle Sampson, Alberto's short on experiece hack, may have never tired a complex case, but was involved in firing David Iglesias, the ex U S Attorney in New Mexico. Mr Iglesias was supporting the Assistant U. S. Attorneys who were developing the case in the corruption kick back scheme of the court house rigged contracts in N. M Congresswoman Heather Wilson was calling in the fall of 2006, seeking to make hay of the matter in her reelection bid. Heather Wilson is not an attorney, but playing some dicey games.
In late March 2007, a 26 count indictment was issued charging 4 people in N. M. The case indictments were brought in due order, but not rushed. Now to cover up for Heather Wilson's improper sleazy misconduct , a N. M swift boat like clique has sprung up in N. M to attack David Iglesias to divert attention away from the Rove activity. This GOP clique includes attorneys from a firm that is a rep for big oil companies, and one of the attorneys Patrick Rogers, even lists himself as Heather Wilson's attorney. He wrote some rabid attack -hit job in the N. M paper, the ABQ Journal attacking David Iglesias. He did that before the latest DOJ filings against the alleged crooks in N. M, in the recent indictments. Rogers is on some list to be appointed as the new U S Attorney in N. M. He is a lobbyist to for a firm that is the go to firm for big oil companies in N. M.
Heather Wilson gets massive PAC money from big oil companies, getting more such PAC money than about all in Congress except but a few others.(from Texas of course). Heather Wilson was seeking to tamper in the justice process to exploit it in her close race, which she won by less than 1000 votes of over 200,000 votes cast in N. M. Given Heather Wilson's ties to Patrick Rogers this opens a whole new can of worms area--given her oily connections, and other problems coming to light in matters, that warrant opein a criminal investigation of Heather Wilson and her cabal in N. M. Polictial black list hacker Sampson even wanted to put the U S. Attorney from Chicago Patrick Fitzegerald on a hit list, but admitted that was really over the top.
It appears that Sampson had a lot of pull trhough Orin Hatch to weasel his way into the top tiers of the DOJ, where he may have done vast damage to the U. S. justice system.

Bugsy wrote on March 31, 2007 12:45 AM:

Moromon's like to work for the Nevada mob..
They never treated Howard Hughes right.
But, the sure luv power.
Their go to guy Orin pulls a lot of levers for his pals. All that holy veneer of pious front is that --just a decoy.
Sampson did vast damage to the morale in the DOJ, he was a user, and he is a disgrace, and he should go on a mission in North Korea for about 7 years for all his misdeeds.

Jason wrote on April 16, 2007 5:08 PM:

I know Kyle. He is a great man. I would believe him anyday over any one else in Washington. He is honest and hard working. Don't judge the man without knowing him. It's unfortunate that all this has happened and been put on him. He is such a nice guy. We need more people like him in Washington.

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