The Abramoff-related investigations appear to be heating up, which some speculate is because the DOJ higher ups are now afraid to set up obstacles in the paths of the local U.S. Attorneys. Today, this unusual news appeared (and BTW, another McClatchy scoop):
Justice Dept official resigns over investigation connected with Abramoff
by Marisa Taylor and David Whitney
McClatchy NewspapersWASHINGTON - A senior Justice Department official has resigned after coming under scrutiny in the Department's expanding investigation of convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a Justice Department official with knowledge of the case.
Making the situation more awkward for the embattled Department, the official, Robert E. Coughlin II, was deputy chief of staff for the criminal division, which is overseeing the Department's probe of Abramoff.
He stepped down effective April 6 as investigators in Coughlin's own division ratcheted up their investigation of lobbyist Kevin Ring, Coughlin's long-time friend and a key associate of Abramoff.
The Jack Abramoff investigation continues to burst with renewed vigor. Now, it's ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) -- who was defeated back in November due in large part to his ties to Abramoff -- who might be in trouble.In the current issue of the National Journal (not available online), Peter Stone reports that "two sources say that the Justice Department is making new inquiries into Hayworth's past links to Abramoff."
Put Hayworth together with Reps. John Doolittle (R-CA) and Tom Feeney (R-FL), ex-Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT), and ex-Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX), and you have five current and former members of Congress who are reportedly under scrutiny by investigators.
Tom Feeny appears to be in some trouble for that infamous golfing trip to St. Andrews. http://thinkprogress...
It will be interesting to see if the biggest side effect of Gonzales' troubles is the unleashing of the local U.S. Attorneys on corruption cases.
The Abramoff hat is available here: http://www.bencrafth... You must, of course, get it in black.
With AG Gonzales in full armadillo-and-testimony-preparation-mode (i.e., sitting in front of a mirror and practicing various inflections and variations of "I don't recollect"), the career attorneys at DOJ and at USA offices throughout the country are pressing ahead with long suppressed investigations.
There is no longer a leadership level at DOJ, or perhaps in any federal agency, which dares to continue obstructing justice or promoting Karl Rove's agendas.
This utter collapse of the mojo of the Bush Administration has occurred in the past two weeks. The rest becomes mopping up.
For millennia the Chinese have had a description for this chain of events: the Bush Administration has "lost the mandate of heaven."
The transactions were the target of a grand jury subpoena issued Nov. 18, 2002, according to the subpoena. It demanded that Anthony Sanchez, administrative director of the Guam Superior Court, turn over all records involving the lobbying contract, including bills and payments.A day later, the chief prosecutor, US Attorney Frederick A. Black, who had launched the investigation, was demoted. A White House news release announced that Bush was replacing Black.
The timing caught some by surprise. Despite his officially temporary status as the acting US attorney, Black had held the assignment for more than a decade.
More at FiredUp! with the Ashcroft connection, but the first mention I saw was the Boston Globe...
On my way to Lynchburg...
It's all about enforcement.
Thanks!
Steve