Paul Charlton, Former US Attorney, Arizona

President Bush announced in July 2001 that he was nominating Paul K. Charlton to be US Attorney from the District of Arizona. Charlton was serving as Interim US Attorney at the time and had served as Assistant US Attorney since 1991.

On 19 December 2006, he announced he would be resigning at the end of January 2007. The Interim US Attorney is Daniel Knauss. From the DOJ press release (pdf):

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Charlton established the Anti-Terrorism Task Force (now called ATAC - the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council), which has improved statewide law enforcement communication and coordination to fight terrorism and explored how to better secure nuclear power plants, water supply, air travel, rail transportation, and computer security. In 2006, Charlton established a National Security Division within the U.S. Attorney's Office to actively work with law enforcement agencies on terrorism related criminal cases.

FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Division John E. Lewis stated: "Paul Charlton has supported the FBI's investigative efforts on many fronts and has been most proactive concerning the Bureau's number one priority, protecting the United States from terrorist attacks."

According to AP, Arizona Democrats want to know if there is a connection between his being fired and his investigation of Rep. Rick Renzi, R-AZ.

Two weeks after Charlton was ordered to give up his post, he sent an e-mail in December to a top Justice Department official asking how to handle questions that his ouster was connected to the Renzi probe, The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday.

Charlton, one of eight federal prosecutors forced to resign last year, never received a written response.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office, Charlton was an Assistant Attorney General in the Arizona Attorney General's Office. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the University of Arizona Law School.