Politicizing U.S. attorneys
Good-government advocates and, yes, Democrats are decrying the removal of several U.S. attorneys nationwide who have shown their independence by aggressively investigating people close to the Bush administration. One of them, Carol Lam of San Diego, pursued the probe that led to the bribery arrest and eventual resignation of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. The ostensible reason for her ouster: She didn't make catching smugglers the priority Washington wants it to be.
Maybe even worse, these critics say, their replacements don't have to be approved by the Senate, thanks to a loophole written into the revised USA Patriot Act that allows the U.S. attorney general to fill vacancies indefinitely without time-consuming confirmation hearings.
This practice politicizes an office that should be above politics. It's apt to discourage U.S. attorneys from going after the bad guys, regardless of political connections, for fear of incurring the Justice Department's wrath.
Let's hope the A.G. isn't looking over the shoulder of Christopher Christie here in New Jersey. Christie has made political corruption a hallmark of his tenure, with members of both political parties stung by the investigations by his staff and the FBI. Christie has become a hero to New Jerseyans fed up with corruption involving their elected officials. He exercises the kind of independence law enforcement everywhere needs.
Maybe even worse, these critics say, their replacements don't have to be approved by the Senate, thanks to a loophole written into the revised USA Patriot Act that allows the U.S. attorney general to fill vacancies indefinitely without time-consuming confirmation hearings.
This practice politicizes an office that should be above politics. It's apt to discourage U.S. attorneys from going after the bad guys, regardless of political connections, for fear of incurring the Justice Department's wrath.
Let's hope the A.G. isn't looking over the shoulder of Christopher Christie here in New Jersey. Christie has made political corruption a hallmark of his tenure, with members of both political parties stung by the investigations by his staff and the FBI. Christie has become a hero to New Jerseyans fed up with corruption involving their elected officials. He exercises the kind of independence law enforcement everywhere needs.
posted by Larry Benjamin at 1:44 PM
1 Comments:
The President, Mr. Benjamin, is ultimately responsible for enforcing the laws of the United States. If the President directs his Attorney General to focus on smuggling, then those US Attorneys who serve at the pleasure of the President had better do what the boss wants done.
If those US Attorneys want independence, they can get elected President themselves. Until then, and like every other employee of the Executive Branch, they are accountable to man the American people put in the White House.
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