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Paulose Offered Justice Department Position
That's one way of solving the problem. Just breaking now from the AP:
Rachel Paulose, the embattled U.S. attorney for Minnesota, will be leaving the post to take a position at the Justice Department in Washington, according to a Bush administration official and congressional aide.
What position? We'll have more when we know more.
No matter what position it is, it's hard to see it as anything other than a way of defusing the problems with the 34 year-old Paulose. She was the focus of an Office of Special Counsel investigation into whether she'd discriminated against office employees, including allegedly using the words “fat,” “black,” “lazy” and “ass” in remarks to one employee.
And that was after four top attorneys in the office voluntarily demoted themselves in protest of Paulose's Bible-quoting management style.
Update: The Star Tribune reports:
U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose has quit her job in Minnesota and will return to Washington, D.C., in January to take a job as a legal policy adviser to Attorney General Michael Mukasey and his deputy....According to a press release issued by her office this afternoon, in her new job Paulose will advise the assistant attorney general for legal policy, who serves as the primary policy adviser to Mukasey and his deputy.
So it sounds like she's returning to essentially the same job she had before she was appointed U.S. attorney for Minnesota. Before that appointment, she was "senior counsel to then-Acting Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty in Washington, D.C., where she was also a special counsel for health care fraud." It's not a promotion -- it's a way out.
Update: Here's Paulose's resignation letter.
So just like that, another symbol of the Gonzales years is outta there.
Comments (71)
SocraticGadfly wrote on November 19, 2007 4:44 PM:Paul, you know:
The office for nondiscrimination against Federalist Society conservative Republican women of color religious right whining bumblers.
THAT DOJ office.
ropo wrote on November 19, 2007 4:45 PM:Per the StarTribune she will return to Washington, D.C., in January to take a job as a legal policy adviser to Attorney General Michael Mukasey and his deputy. In other words, she's being benched.
dcs wrote on November 19, 2007 4:47 PM:Excellent news! Let the rebuilding of the non-partisan Justice Department commence!
Michael wrote on November 19, 2007 4:49 PM:FINALLY. This one was a complete and utter joke. Frightening. Luckily I guess they don't have to worry about alot of crime in Minnesota, because they sure can't rely on the US Atty's office for criminal prosecutions, unless of course the target is a dem and its in an election year.
Spinsterina wrote on November 19, 2007 4:53 PM:Paulose's office said in a statement that Paulose will be counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/11/19/pauloseleaves/
Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 4:55 PM:Sending her to DC where they can keep an eye on her, but keeping her on the payroll so she doesn't blab.
Smells like a "promotion" is probably in the works. Let's just hope her new job has zero responsibility.
Of course this is the Bush Admin, so she's probably destined to run the Civil Rights Division.
Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 4:56 PM:This probably also means she'll move out of her parents house in Minnesota and finally get her own place.
Imagine, living with your parents at age 35. Grow up, Rachel.
Allsburg wrote on November 19, 2007 5:00 PM:The alleged slur or slurs involve the words “fat,” “black,” “lazy” and “ass.”
Though not necessarily in that order.
jimijazz wrote on November 19, 2007 5:01 PM:This is Mukasey's way of turning the Justice Department around? Totally ridiculous.
tom wrote on November 19, 2007 5:01 PM:So can we expect that the trafficking of blond blue eyed Minnesotans is now going to flourish?
Church Street wrote on November 19, 2007 5:02 PM:What will become of all those prosecutions for human trafficking?
Think of the children! Won't someone think of the children!
EH wrote on November 19, 2007 5:03 PM:Looks like the DOJ didn't feel like backing up her charges of persecution from the prostitution lobby.
amyee wrote on November 19, 2007 5:04 PM:As a US Attorney, her time was probably limited. (Many incoming presidents replace all US Attorneys.)Anybody know if the new position is a permanent position, in which case we'll have to put up with her distorted way of thinkin for some time to come?
warren terra wrote on November 19, 2007 5:08 PM:That's what the Bushies mean when they say they're bringing someone to justice.
Saint Augustine wrote on November 19, 2007 5:10 PM:Perhaps Rachael and her friend Monica could start a Christian escort service in DC. They can specialize in mind-fucks just by talking about their philosophies on different aspects of life as one of God's warriors.
Jim wrote on November 19, 2007 5:13 PM:Same old story
No one is held accountable for their incompetence.
She should have been shown the door.
eric wrote on November 19, 2007 5:14 PM:"Imagine, living with your parents at age 35. Grow up, Rachel."
Imagine living with your parents and 35 while at the same time being US Attorney!
Yikes!
John Emerson wrote on November 19, 2007 5:19 PM:The real pity is that she was the hottest US Attorney EVAR!
phil wrote on November 19, 2007 5:28 PM:UHHH john e.
TheraP wrote on November 19, 2007 5:35 PM:Hot????? I kinda puked a little in my mouth just now.
Don't you recognize her? She's the ping pong ball launcher in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".
This is welcome news.
The worm is turning.
Ok, you may want her prosecuted. But she's out of a job... and infamous to boot!
There can only be so many plumb jobs for those who pledged allegiance to bush...
G wrote on November 19, 2007 5:40 PM:I think the position she is taking is either doggy-style or advanced missionary.
sy wrote on November 19, 2007 5:42 PM:Ding dong, the witch is d---.
Witch: I'm melting.
Michael Lafferty wrote on November 19, 2007 5:45 PM:Now, that's cool! Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.
That's where, as the Assistant Attorney General, Mayor Giuliani got his first 'foreign policy experience' when he interviewed 'Papa Doc' Duvalier and determined that there was no longer any political persecution in Haiti, deciding—as a matter of legal policy—that we ought to pack up those 2,000 Haitian refugees and send them back home to the people who loved them!
Great. Maybe she can follow the path and become the female, Indian-American, conservative, persecuted fundamentalist Mayor of New York City someday…
Aaaargh wrote on November 19, 2007 5:56 PM:How did Laura Gemser ever get to be a US Attorney anyway? I liked that one movie she made with the horse, though.
Sorrowfully Gleeful wrote on November 19, 2007 5:58 PM:all I can think of to say is Hey Rachel! Ha Ha ... Ha Ha Ha ... and neener neener
couldn't happen to a nicer anally curbed retard
Steve in Seattle wrote on November 19, 2007 5:58 PM:Give my regards to Monica when you both show up as fish in the prison bubble!
Much as I might disagree with Ms. Paulouse, her living at home should not subject her to ridicule.
In our area and in Vancouver Canada you often see large 36,000+ sg ft houses occupied by families with Indian or Paki heritage.
Extended families live together in the same house but have separate living areas and share the care for their elderly relatives and young children.
I envy the strength and warmth of bonds of these extended families.
In our culture it is assumed that children living with parents would be taking resources from the parents. In her culture she is expected to support and care for her parents.
nofltwlt wrote on November 19, 2007 5:58 PM:Please keep investigating her until she gets the treatment she deserves - to be locked up.
ilitigant wrote on November 19, 2007 6:00 PM:Just don't get it do you? Isn't there perhaps another reason she left? Good grief man THINK!
an east indian wrote on November 19, 2007 6:00 PM:All right! Now that a dark-skinned person has been hounded out of office, MN can reclaim its racial purity again!
Amos Anan wrote on November 19, 2007 6:01 PM:I'll take the cynical view on this. Why would Mukasey want to have one of the "Justice" Department's major political enforcer-missionary people as his "legal policy adviser?" My take is that she'll be his "John Bolton," quick to report any inclinations away from the existing criminal policy (take that in the most insulting manner possible). She's going to be Mukasey's minder, or more likely, one of his minders.
I don't understand what the delay till January means. That seems to be some sort of lame duck limbo and points towards her being dumped unless there are still some hard nosed individuals left where she is that actually believe in the rule of law.
an east indian wrote on November 19, 2007 6:02 PM:All this race-baiting, misogynistic comments from "progressives"! Very nice.
Alguien wrote on November 19, 2007 6:04 PM:Saint Augustine wrote on November 19, 2007 5:10 PM:
Perhaps Rachael and her friend Monica could start a Christian escort service in DC. They can specialize in mind-fucks just by talking about their philosophies on different aspects of life as one of God's warriors!!
BRILLIANT IDEA, St. Agustine!
After all, somebody has to save all those sinners from burning in Hell on Judgement Day! (and Billy Graham and Co. won't be around for too long!)
"Rachel and Monica's Conservative Christian Escort Services"!
Motto: "Let us rise the fallen and take them on a trip to Heaven"
Masrdart wrote on November 19, 2007 6:08 PM:Is it time for a new coronation?
Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 6:12 PM:"Luckily I guess they don't have to worry about alot of crime in Minnesota"
I wish that were true. The two gang members shot dead in my Minneapolis alley might beg to differ, if they could speak. My immediate neighbors, both of whom have had their houses broken into, and one of whom has been held up at gunpoint while walking down the street in my neighborhood (last week) would also dispute that claim, if you asked them.
Now admittedly, it doesn't come anywhere near the level of crime going on inside the federal government these days...
Not Gonna Take It wrote on November 19, 2007 6:17 PM:I can appreciate cultural diversity but political hit crimes perpetrated against the citizens of this country need to be prosecuted ... what they have done is conspiracy, plain and simple ... they sought to and carried out clear deliberate violations of enablement to undermine the constitution, it's provisions and it's legal remedies for rectifying said same violations. If they hadn't been caught they would instead have been assumed by their positions as correct in their policy views and they knew it. Like Monica Goodling said ..."I knew I was over the line".
Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 6:18 PM:"All this race-baiting, misogynistic comments from "progressives"! Very nice."
They ridicule her faux claims of martyrdom. Earlier today she played the race card, it was hilarious. If I find the link, I'll post it.
justadood wrote on November 19, 2007 6:24 PM:Truly a textbook example of 'wingnut welfare'...doesn't matter if you're incompetent. If you're sufficiently pure in your ideology, have the connections, we'll find *something* for you to do where you can't be touched...
Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 6:25 PM:Steve in Seattle wrote on November 19, 2007 5:58 PM:
Much as I might disagree with Ms. Paulouse, her living at home should not subject her to ridicule.//In our culture it is assumed that children living with parents would be taking resources from the parents. In her culture she is expected to support and care for her parents.
Her CULTURE??? I am sorry to say this, but regardless of her living arrangements, she abandoned her Native American culture the moment she enrolled in Regent U (a.k.a The Evangelical Madrassa) and became a Bible-quoting Taliban-equivalent Christian fanatic with a useless law degree.
Saint Augustine wrote on November 19, 2007 6:26 PM:Furthermore, if you think she deserves respect for her "culture", she should start by respecting her subordinates instead of using racial slurs and diminishing adjectives.
Alguien
How about setting up on K St. as "Cunts for Christ".
Alguien wrote on November 19, 2007 6:31 PM:Saint Augustine wrote on November 19, 2007 6:26 PM:
Alguien
How about setting up on K St. as "Cunts for Christ".
EXCELLENT!
Motto: Proudly offering our bodies and souls in the name of the Lord.
Saint Augustine wrote on November 19, 2007 6:32 PM:Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 6:25 PM:
Get your facts straight. Paulose was born in India, she's THAT kind of indian, not a Native American indian. Also, she graduated from Yale Law School no Regents, that was Monica.
Unmitigated Audacity wrote on November 19, 2007 6:32 PM:I fail to see how this is great news. She is staying in the DOJ. Great early pick there, Mukasey. Mr. Shumer and Ms. Feinstein must be feeling really great about themselves tonght.
Bill Peterson wrote on November 19, 2007 6:59 PM:As usual with the Republicans, being disgraced means nothing. You can still have a job. They have no shame and no sense of honor. Rachel probably really thinks she is a victim.
John Dillinger wrote on November 19, 2007 7:03 PM:She'll be head of the criminal division under President Rudy and and AG Ted Olson.
MNPundit wrote on November 19, 2007 7:25 PM:Why is it always put “fat,” “black,” “lazy” and “ass” ?
Why is it never "fat, black, lazy-ass"?
Personally I'd just like to say that I'm glad the Minnesota employees got her removed. Good on my home state.
Alguien wrote on November 19, 2007 7:28 PM:John Dillinger wrote on November 19, 2007 7:03 PM:
She'll be head of the criminal division under President Rudy and AG Ted Olson.
And will probably chit chat at many cocktail parties with Secretary of Homeland Security, Bernie Kerik.
jumblyaya wrote on November 19, 2007 7:40 PM:DISGUSTING!
I think she was criticizing her subordinate's lazy ass back fat. "Black" is just a typo.
Rosali wrote on November 19, 2007 7:41 PM:This is a political appointment position. She can be fired when the Democratic president takes office.
Kenji wrote on November 19, 2007 7:45 PM:What, no Medal of Freedom. It's a high-tech lynching!
Mauimom wrote on November 19, 2007 7:57 PM:I was disappointed to discover that her resignation letter was not the same sort of "mash note" [extolling Bush's "virtues"] as Harriet Meyers & Fran Thompson wrote.
What is it with these females that Bush "charms" them so comletely?
Simian wrote on November 19, 2007 8:14 PM:Do her lips remind anyone else of a baboon in heat?
Bigger Thomas wrote on November 19, 2007 8:16 PM:Please don't send her to the Voting Section. We already have one Special Counsel Queen Bee making life difficult for "fat, lazy, black asses".......
Noam Sane wrote on November 19, 2007 8:27 PM:Heckuva Job.
This bodes well for Mukasey's term as AG - she sounds like just the kind of person one would want on the team as he repairs the office.
Barry Champlain wrote on November 19, 2007 8:36 PM:Is there going to be a coronation ceremony with High Mass and choir, as she assumes THIS position, too?
And I am dittos with everyone here who thinks that this promotion (or whatever the hell you'd call it) puts the lie to all the self-serving claptrap we heard from Mukasey, as he promised Congress that he'd uphold the sacrud rool of lore...
alabama wrote on November 19, 2007 9:02 PM:It is wrong for Mukasey to keep this woman on she made racial slurs at one of her employee's and called her a fat black lazy ass there should be zero tolerance in the doj for this kind of behavior he should have kicked her out of her job instead of bringing her back to washington to do more harm. rACIAL SLURS SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY INACCEPTABLE THIS IS A JOKE.
Anonymous wrote on November 19, 2007 9:20 PM:It is disturing to read the sad feedbacK: that because she may be Native American ancestry, that this gives her moral force to demean others. That is not impressive.
It is unfortunate she, despite her problems, is getting promoted. She should not be rewarded with a position in DC, but politely asked to return to private practice.
enough wrote on November 19, 2007 10:11 PM:She took an oath to Bush, not to the constitution of the U.S. Good riddance.
enough wrote on November 19, 2007 10:15 PM:Could Waxman ask about this? Her coworkers are the canaries in the coal mine.
DEEK wrote on November 19, 2007 11:32 PM:wingnut welfare
a real liberal wrote on November 20, 2007 12:44 AM:I'm probably to the left of most of you and it is highly embarassing to read the uninformed invectives here. If you are going to criticize someone atleast do it (1) based on facts, (2) with class, (3) without countering racism with racism, (4) keeping out ideology, else most of you sound like dittoheads, out to trash Josh's well-earned reputation.
tom wrote on November 20, 2007 12:46 AM:this bitch is a cunt
Mike Bakunin wrote on November 20, 2007 1:24 AM:A "Real Liberal." Is that like a "Real Man?"
featherfamily wrote on November 20, 2007 1:26 AM:How can Paul Keil or any commenters think this is welcome news?
How does Mukasey actually want this Federalist-society incompetent advising him ???? If that's for real, we not only have an Attorney General who believes the President is above the law, we have one who can't read character and/or behavior, and one who is reckless about associating himself with notoriety (she would say)/scandal (we would say).
And if even TPM commenters shrug their shoulders about another Bush-worshiping airhead getting a promotion with no flack from Congress and/or the larger media, then the slide is pretty far gone, our a**es are toast already, my fellow Americans. Have you read your 3 volumes of the Gulag Archipelago, do you understand what we're in for?
Anonymous wrote on November 20, 2007 6:07 AM:My question is whether this is a political appointment or civil service.
JanM wrote on November 20, 2007 7:55 AM:Rachel will do for the Attorney General's office what she did for the Minnesota office. That's what she was hired for then, and that's what she's being hired for now.
She'll be Mukasey's hamstringer: someone who makes sure that investigations get derailed, buried, or diverted through carelessness or inattention.
She can passively-aggressively do the job that Mukasey wants done with very little effort on her part (but a very high salary and visits with the Prezzy for Mommy Daddy; anything that outrages the public can be explained away later with the Bush-standard Guess I Fucked That Up excuse.
moondancer wrote on November 20, 2007 9:36 AM:anon@6:07
Political. And her new job is pretty much her old job. She did this same thing as aide to McNulty.
rachel chaser wrote on November 20, 2007 9:42 AM:A GOP apologist was lamenting all the fine talent that was wasted by these inopportune appointments. His thinking was they were ten years from being great. My take, if you hire or promote based on ideology or religious affiliation, you deserve the disaster that will certainly ensue.
you know, once Rachel gets to Washington she'll be ready to rock. Let's face it Minn. is full of redneck-like hillbillies. Alright they don't have hills. Lakebillies.
moondancer wrote on November 20, 2007 10:56 AM:I'd drag her bible-quotin butt down to the shittiest bar in town and let her try to convert someone to the RightWingnut Way. To see her sqwakin and smokin
and drinkin... wow. She should be on the next Real World. Or The Apprentice
I guess the reason she wasn't fired is she's being groomed as a future minority office seeker. The GOP needs a token elected official so they can pretend not to be racist.
a real liberal wrote on November 20, 2007 11:29 AM:A real liberal is one who is secure enough to be able to argue her liberal beliefs that she doesn't resort to abuse and shouting.
Anne wrote on November 20, 2007 12:20 PM:Is she going to have the same type coronation ceremony she had when she was sworn in in Minneapolis? That was so over the top that it should have sent alarm bells ringing all over DOJ.
Roberta wrote on November 20, 2007 2:32 PM:To an east indian:
There's a lot of anger about Palouse. By all accounts (such as from her co-workers, who chose to work in lower-rank positions rather than work with her) Palouse was not only guilty of racism herself and of tyrannical treatment of her co-workers/subordinates, she was not qualified to be in that position.
Her appointment and actions were just another knife in the gut for those who have decried the politicization of Justice, which used to be acknowledged domestically and internationally as an unbiased and effective prosecutor of crime.
I don't like reading or hearing racial invective either, but the anger and frustration need some kind of outlet. There's only so much that people who used to have faith in the nonpolitical arms of the Administration and have been so betrayed can take.