Why US attorneys were fired: the evidence so far
The paper trail on the firings suggests many reasons, none definitive.
from the March 27, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
Margaret Chiara, US attorney in Grand Rapids, Mich., appears to have been one of those at the "de minimus" end of the scale of those pushed out, according an e-mail between her and headquarters. In other words, Washington did not want her out as much as it did some others. She was allowed to postpone announcement of her resignation in an apparent attempt to avoid linking her to the others.
Yet her office was "fractured, morale has fallen, and [she] has lost the confidence of the leadership team," according to the overall matrix document.
David Iglesias, US attorney in Albuquerque, N.M., on the other hand, appears to be a particular target of the prosecutor purge. Democrats have insisted, and Mr. Iglesias himself has suggested, that he was fired for declining to investigate allegations of voter fraud in his district.
According to the matrix of reasons memo, Iglesias was an "absentee landlord." A handwritten addition says he was "underperforming generally."
Carol Lam, US attorney in San Diego, was another particular target. A May 31, 2006, e-mail from a top official in Washington wondered whether she had ever been "woodshedded" about a perceived lack of enforcement of immigration laws.
The matrix of Justice Department explanations adds that she "focused too much attention and time on personally trying cases," in the view of her superiors.
John McKay, US attorney in Seattle, was clearly thought by his superiors to be a loose cannon. One reason cited by top officials in his dismissal was "temperament issues."
Critics of the administration have cited Mr. McKay's endorsement of an information-sharing system for federal and state law enforcement – an effort the Justice Department has questioned.
Kevin Ryan, US attorney in San Francisco, was cited as running "the most fractured office in the nation." Morale there was so low it was "harming our prosecutorial efforts," according to Justice officials.
Finally, the matrix document separates out H.E. "Bud" Cummins, US attorney in Little Rock, Ark., via a separate box. Justice officials have acknowledged he was moved out to make room for a former associate of presidential adviser Karl Rove, but they insist that the associate, J. Timothy Griffin, is highly qualified for the job.
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