AttorneyGate - - The Firing of US Attorneys

2005

• Unknown: New Mexico Republican Party chair asks White House to fire US Attorney David Iglesias because "of dissatisfaction in part with his failure to indict Democrats in a voter fraud investigation in the battleground election state."
• Early: Then White House Counsel, Harriet Miers asks Justice about the feasibility of replacing all 93 USAs.
• March: Kyle Samson, AG Gonzales chief of staff, sends a list of possible attorneys for replacement to Miers and William K. Kelley, the deputy counsel to the president.
• March: Seattle USA John McKay is reportedly placed on the list.
• November: Sampson sends a new list to Miers; Iglesias appears on the list of prosecutors to be dismissed.

March 2006

• The Patriot Act extension -- PL 109-177 -- worked its way through Congress as HR3199. Read the bill text (pdf)
• Presidential Signing Statement
• AG Gonzales delegated "extraordinary authority over the hiring and firing of most non-civil-service employees" to two staff members: Kyle Sampson and Monica Goodling. Specifically, the secret order granted the two "the authority, with the approval of the Attorney General, to take final action in matters pertaining to the appointment, employment, pay, separation, and general administration." (cite - 30 April 2007)

October 2006

• According to Newsweek, "Kyle Sampson, Gonzales's chief of staff, developed the list of eight prosecutors to be fired [in] October -- with input from the White House."
• Attorney Iglesias says he received phone calls from two members of Congress in October, pressing him "to speed up a probe of Democrats just before the November elections." He goes public on 28 February.

December 2006

• 7 December. US Department of Justice fires a raft of US Attorneys. Fired: Daniel Bogden (NV); Paul Charlton (AZ); Margaret Chiara (MI); H.E. "Bud" Cummins (AR); David Iglesias (NM); John McKay (WA); Carol Lam (CA); Kevin Ryan (CA).
• 19 December. David Iglesias (NM) Announces Pending Resignation

January 2007

• 9 January. S. 214: Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007 introduced.
• 12 January. San Diego Union Tribune reports that US Attorney Carol Lam has been asked to resign.
• 17 January. Floor speech by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
• Attorney General Gonzales told a Senate committee that all eight firings were for performance reasons -- that there was no politics in play. "I would never, ever make a change in a United States attorney for political reasons or if it would in any way jeopardize an ongoing serious investigation. I just would not do it."

February 2007

• 12 February. SB 214 As Reported.
• 22 February 2007. The Congressional Research Service reports that most US Attorneys serve full terms.
• 23 February. Margaret Chiara (MI) announces she will resign from her position at US Attorney. From her statement: "She is the first woman in the history of the State of Michigan to serve as a United States Attorney."
• 28 February. Last day as US Attorney for Iglesias, who says he received phone calls from two members of Congress before the 7 November election, pressing him "to speed up a probe of Democrats just before the November elections." Iglesias does not name names. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) "did not respond to repeated requests for comment." Spokesmen for Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) denied contact with Iglesias.

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