Emails show Executive power grab
The White House and Justice Department were working together to oust eight federal prosecutors and replace them with Bush-friendly appointees. And no, this is not far-fetched. have turned up that show WH and JD officials on how to get a former Karl Rove political operative appointed without Senate approval:
Using the authority it quietly inserted into the USA Patriot Act that passed in March 2006, the officials discussed the prospects for a former operative for political adviser Karl Rove, who was appointed to the U.S. attorney's job in Arkansas replacing one of eight suddenly fired by the administration.
"Our guy is in there so the status quo is good for us . . . note that he is qualified whenever asked, pledge to desire a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney and otherwise hunker down," Kyle Sampson, former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, wrote in an e-mail in Dec. 19, 2006.
At the same time, Sampson wondered whether Rove aide Tim Griffin was "the guy on which to test drive this authority, but I know that getting him appointed was important to Harriet, Karl, etc.," Sampson wrote, referring to Harriet Miers, former White House Counsel and Karl Rove.
In other words, this loophole in the Patriot Act allows the Justice Department to fire prosecutors and then appoint new ones without having them go through the Senate confirmation process. They could appoint Hulk Hogan if they wanted, and get away with it!
Had it not been for 9/11 and Karl Rove's Machiavellian ability to morph our memories of that horrible day into a wedge issue, this loophole in the Patriot Act would not exist today. It's just more proof that the Administration is using the fear behind terrorism as a means to further its unrelated domestic agenda.
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