Mukasey: No Prosecutions In Hiring Scandal

But Attorney General Slams Justice Dept. Officials For Acting Politically In Hiring Prosecutors

(CBS/ AP)  Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Tuesday said former Justice Department officials will not face prosecution for letting improper political considerations drive hirings of prosecutors, immigration judges and other career government lawyers.

Mukasey used his sharpest words yet to criticize the senior leaders who took part in or failed to stop illegal hiring practices during the tenure of his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales. The scandal reverberated throughout the Bush administration and ultimately factored prominently in Gonzales' decision to resign.

But, Mukasey told delegates to the American Bar Association annual meeting, "not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime. In this instance, the two joint reports found only violations of the civil service laws."

For nearly two years, top advisers to Gonzales discriminated against applicants for career jobs who weren't Republican or conservative loyalists, an internal investigation concluded last month.

The federal government makes a distinction between "career" and "political" appointees, and it's a violation of civil service laws and Justice Department policy to hire career employees on the basis of political affiliation or allegiance.

Yet Monica Goodling, who served as Gonzales' counselor and White House liaison, routinely asked career job applicants about politics, the report concluded.

Despite Mukasey's comments on Tuesday, CBS News producer Stephanie Lambidakis reports that the most important investigation - the one involving the firings of U.S. attorneys - has not been completed, so there is no way to know whether anyone could face prosecution.

Further, the other major OIG investigation - involving the politicization of the Civil Rights Division - could lead to criminal prosecution, Lambidakis adds. Brad Schlozman, the former top Civil Rigths Division official, is under grand jury investigation for possible false statements in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Several current and former officials have been questioned and some have been subpoenaed to testify.

Mukasey, who once served as a federal judge in New York, said the Justice Department has taken steps under his leadership to prevent a recurrence of the hiring scandal.

"I have made repeatedly clear...that it is neither permissible nor acceptable to consider political affiliations in the hiring of career department employees," Mukasey said.

If the problems were to recur, Mukasey said he is confident department employees would speak up.

That did not happen during Gonzales' tenure, he said. Gonzales appeared unaware of the political hiring process outlined by Goodling and his then-chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, the report said.

"There was a failure of supervision by senior officials in the department. And there was a failure on the part of some employees to cry foul when they were aware, or should have been aware, of problems," Mukasey said.

Mukasey said these reports typically are painful, but important.

"Professionalism is alive and well at the Justice Department," he said.

Some candidates for career Justice Department jobs who were excluded because of politics could be invited to apply for new positions, Mukasey said.

He also ruled out firing or reassigning those who were hired under the now-discarded evaluation process.

"Two wrongs do not make a right," he said. "People who were hired in an improper way didn't themselves do anything wrong."

[kansas1946]

Just another day in the corrupt Bush administration. Worst president in the history of the US.

[neoconrcrazy]

BS Muck-azzy is a neocon tool allowed in by Sen. Schumer & Feinstein - all of the jewish faith -

must have been that deep-rooted faith that facilitated their faulty decision....

[smurfcrusher]

"He also ruled out firing or reassigning those who were hired under the now-discarded evaluation process.

"Two wrongs do not make a right," he said. "People who were hired in an improper way didn''t themselves do anything wrong."


If two wrongs do not make a right, then make the illegally mistreated candidates whole.

Letting this miscarriage of justice stand only rewards and encourages more of the same behavior.

What use are laws, if these idiots can ignore them with impunity?

I''ve never seen such a pack of fools in all my life.

[smurfcrusher]

"not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime"

No, of course not. It''s only an alleged crime until our officials perform their sworn duty and successfully prosecute.

Of course in this Republican administration, sworn anything is meaningless.

Since when is a violation of law not a crime?

Does this mean we can ignore laws like Bush et al does? Or do we need friends in high places before we are considered above the law?

Republican reasoning at work

[ajayvee]

We write and write about the perceived and actual breaking of laws by Bush and company. Do we actually think that these crooks really cares what the man on the street thinks and feels? A Canadian Prime Minister once said that even a Minister of the Crown is just a piece of sh*t when he''s a hundred feet away from Parliament. It probably does us good to write because it relieves a bit of the frustration and anger over the fact that they can thumb their collective noses at the Criminal Code and the Constitution and never have to be called to account for their crimes. They will all retire and live long prosperous lives laughing at old newspaper clippings describing our frustration. Ironically, that is what frustrates me.

[firststate]

What a surprise, the Bush administration won''t prosecute Bush administration members who violate the law. Who would know when to stop if they ever started? The federal court system might grind to a halt from the volume of cases if everybody in the administration who violated the law were prosecuted. Mukasey is just protecting the system and the bushies, too.

[stn_sage]

When this guy was nominated, he appeared to me to be just as partisan, just as incompetent as Gonzalez, and time as proven THAT, to be the case!

WHAT?! He says crimes were committed, BUT it''s NOT necessary now to seek justice and correct them?!
FIRE HIM! He''s NOT DOING HIS JOB!

All the more that the law NEEDs to be enforced, because the parties who violated it WERE lawyers,
they KNEW they were violating it.
If they''re NOT prosecuted, there''s no reason for
anyone else to obey the law! What''s fair for one,
is fair for ALL!

[bm6005]

Obviously no laws were broken. Did Clinton act in a political fassion when he FIRED ALL when he was elected. ......
Posted by notblue

Ya know I never cease to be amazed at your stupidity. Every elected president gets to clean house once when they''re elected. Georgie dip ***''s problem is he continued to do it based on who these lawyers were pursuing.

[bm6005]

Once again, Lawyers all. Close all law schools for 50 yrs and let them all die out. Self-serving, scum sucking pigs!!!!

[terrapin78]

Nothing but scum have been appointed by Bu$h. SCUM!!!!!

[kofiananimus]

un-f***ing-believable.
This ought to be the front page cover story.
"Yes, we broke every rule, but no, we''re not going to punish anyone".
IMPEACH EVERYONE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION!!!

[libsluv2spit]

kinda remind me of that liberal experiment of "affirmative action".


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Posted by libsluv2spit at 04:24 PM : Aug 12, 2008


Go take a nap, man. You''''re babbling.


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Posted by WogerWabbit at 04:33 PM : Aug 12, 2008
+ report abuse

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just like the DNC..your post pretty much project the liberal weakness, incapable to make any reason to do anything..what are you going to do??watch another micheal moore movie to get you all ''pumped up''??

[wogerwabbit]

kinda remind me of that liberal experiment of "affirmative action".


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Posted by libsluv2spit at 04:24 PM : Aug 12, 2008


Go take a nap, man. You''re babbling.

[libsluv2spit]

"Two wrongs do not make a right," he said. "People who were hired in an improper way didn''''t themselves do anything wrong."

...And the people who were fired in an improper way DID do something wrong, right Mukasey.


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Posted by lochlan at 03:33 PM : Aug 12, 2008
+ report abuse


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kinda remind me of that liberal experiment of "affirmative action".

[libsluv2spit]

kinda makes you wonder if the DNC is smart enough to do anything...I mean these liberals can protest in the nude all they way as part of thier enligthened approach to things, they can pay over-rated comedians to come up with some really catchy phrases, names, movies and cartoon skits BUT BOTTOMLINE..they are too weak, too stupid, too vain, too cocky TO DO ANYTHING..seeesh!

[donkrieger]

DOJ Inspector General''s Reports Online:

We are placing all of the DOJ Inspector General''s Reports online at:
http://publicservice.evendon.com

The 2 recent reports on politicization of the hiring process of Summer Interns and by staffer Monica Goodling may also be found at the direct links below. These are very convenient, not PDF''s. They load very fast and each page includes a highlighted copy/paste link for easy online citation:
http://publicservice.evendon.com/DOJInternsM.htm
http://publicservice.evendon.com/DOJHiringJul08M.htm

Everything on our site is free and permanent.

Don

[lochlan-2009]

"Two wrongs do not make a right," he said. "People who were hired in an improper way didn''t themselves do anything wrong."

...And the people who were fired in an improper way DID do something wrong, right Mukasey.

[lochlan-2009]

Have you heard the latest joke from the attorney general?

"Professionalism is alive and well at the Justice Department," he said.


HAA,HAA,HAAAA,HHHAAAA, THAT IS SO HILARIOUS!!!!!!!

[imnho]

The AG''s statement is somewhat baziarre and confusing.He is saying that a clear violation of the crimnal or civil law cannot be adjutacated.It seems that he has decided that teh adminastration is a law onto itself and not in the least bit accountable.This is very forebodding. Its also typical of the present people in power. If they lose the election I hope they choose to exit on scheduale. They maybe to drunk on power to do that.

[DocD--2008]

"I have made repeatedly clear...that it is neither permissible nor acceptable to consider political affiliations in the hiring of career department employees," Mukasey said, "but if you do repeat it, you know I won''t prosecute you!"

Very sad position, especially since he took an oath to "uphold all laws" admitted laws were violated but refuses to follow his oath and prosecute, and in doing so, is himself violating the law and needs to be prosecuted or a the very least, thrown out of his office and the removed from the Bar. This is what gives lawyers a bad name and rightly so.