US Attorney Scandal Widens

Justice Dept. considered firing 26; documents contradict Gonzales' testimony
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted May 17, 2007 8:42 AM CDT
US Attorney Scandal Widens
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales former Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 29, 2007, before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Justice Department firings of U.S. Attorneys. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)   (Associated Press)

The Justice Department considered firing at least 26 US attorneys, the Washington Post reports, including 13 who still have their jobs. Alberto Gonzales' office compiled the previously undisclosed lists, which appear to indicate that the AG targeted far more prosecutors than he has acknowledged. He has testified that the purge effort was limited to the eight who were ultimately fired.

A DoJ spokesman refused to confirm the names, which total more than one-quarter of the 93 US attorneys. He pointed to Gonzales' then chief of staff, saying the lists "reflect Kyle Sampson's thoughts." Some current US attorneys had no idea they were under scrutiny. "Really? I wasn't aware of that," said Paula Silsby of Maine. (More Alberto Gonzales stories.)

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