Personal About Politics: Curiouser & Curiouser, The Justice Department Debacle Continues.

 Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and the Justice Department seem to have fallen down the dark rabbit hole and can’t get out.

On Friday, which is the day of the week the Bush Administration usually makes unfavorable press statements hoping no one will notice, the Justice Department turned over 283 new documents. Among the new information was an e-mail from D. Kyle Sampson, the former chief-of-staff for Gonzales, confirming a  meeting to discuss the removal of the U.S. attorneys with Gonzales along with five other members of the department.

This contradicts a statement made to the press by Gonzales on March 13 that he had not participated in any discussions about the dismissals. According to the New York Times he said he was aware that his staff had been evaluating the performance of different prosecutors, but on several occasions he said that it was not a matter that he had followed closely.

“That is in essence what I knew about the process; was not involved in seeing any memos, was not involved in any discussion about what was going on.”

What exactly was he doing then? As Attorney General, shouldn’t he be very much involved in such an important decision as the removal of U.S. attorneys?

His spokesperson, Tasia Scolinos, told reporters on Friday, after the release of the documents, that Gonzales’ attendance at the hour- long meeting was not inconsistent with his past remarks.

“It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change.” (Alice, in Alice in Wonderland)

Apparently during the meeting, it was determined that a good reason for the dismissals would be needed, since Scolinos then sent an e-mail to Catherine Martin, a top White House aide, stating, “The one common link here is that three of them are along the southern border. So you could make the connection that DOJ is unhappy with the immigration prosecution numbers in those districts.”

Off with their heads! (Queen, Alice in Wonderland)

Ten days later eight federal prosecutors were fired.

Except for the Sampson e-mail, among all the reams of released documents there is an unusual gap of information during the period between Nov. 16 and Dec. 5, when the firings were apparently being discussed. (Shades of Watergate’s 18-minute gap?)

Curiouser and curiouser. (Alice, Alice in Wonderland)

Yesterday an aide to Gonzales, Monica Goodling, who had helped to coordinate the expulsions, as well as serving as the Justice Department’s White House Liaison, invoked her constitutional right to refuse to testify before a Senate panel investigating the dismissals. In a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, she asserted her Fifth Amendment protection against compelled self-incrimination.

An official from the Justice Department said they were “concerned” about Ms. Goodling’s refusal to testify since “we had agreed to make Department of Justice officials available to the committee.” (NY Times 3/27)

Kyle Sampson, who had agreed to voluntarily appear at the Senate hearing on Thursday stated through his lawyer Monday night that, “Kyle plans to testify fully, truthfully and publicly.” (NY Times 3/27)

That would be nice. Someone from the Justice Department finally telling the truth. 


King of Hearts: What do you know about this unfortunate affair?
March Hare: Nothing.
Queen of Hearts: Nothing whatever?
March Hare: Nothing whatever!
Queen of Hearts: [shouts] That's very important! Jury, write that down!
(Alice in Wonderland)
 



Cheri Cabot, Politics Correspondent
Cheri’s column, “Personal About Politics”, published every Tuesday, will reflect on how the life of a 57 year-old, middle class woman is affected by politics, policy and the current state of the nation - a look at the personal aspects of politics. The articles will be posted to Politics.gather.com as part of Gather Essentials.

Cheri is a single teacher and writer, living in Southern California.  She has two grown children, one in Iowa and one at Columbia University, and is the proud grandmother of two. Cheri is also a purveyor of fine coffee, warm chatter and dry wit.

You can find all of Cheri’s columns on Personal About Politics at www.ccabot.gather.com.  Keep up with Cheri’s other postings and Gather activity by joining her Gather network at www.ccabot.gather.com, and select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page.

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