McClatchy Kicked Off the Plane AND Redacted Beyond Recognition

by emptywheel

McClatchy announced today that poor Donald Rummy kicked them off of his plane three years for actually doing their job. Ironically, on the same day we see this remarkable work of censorship as DOJ released a long email chain between Brian Roehrkasse and one of McClatchy's reporters (note, this was one of the email exchanges Sampson refused to turn over). It's a PDF, but it's worth clicking through. DOJ has redacted the entire exchange between Roehrkasse and the journalist.

Unless one of the journalists wants to release their side of the exchange, we can only guess what so incensed DOJ. But we can start with the article that came out of the exchange. Roehrkasse's quotes reveal some element of his anger.

"Allegations that politics inappropriately interfere with personnel decisions made about U.S. attorneys are reckless and plainly wrong," department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said. "... The bottom line is that we nominate experienced attorneys who we believe can do the job."

But I suspect the real cause for concern was that McClatchy pegged DOJ's plan: to install its own chosen successors at USA offices around the country to exercise centralized control over justice.

And McClatchy included a list of all the AG appointed USAs it could find:

-Tim Griffin, 37, the U.S. attorney for Arkansas, who was an aide to White House political adviser Karl Rove and a spokesman for the Republican National Committee.

-Rachel Paulose, 33, the U.S. attorney for Minnesota, who served briefly as a counselor to the deputy attorney general and who, according to a former boss, has been a member of the secretive, ideologically conservative Federalist Society.

-Jeff Taylor, 42, the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., who was an aide to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and worked as a counselor to Gonzales and to former Attorney General John Ashcroft.

-John Wood, U.S. attorney in Kansas City, who's the husband of Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Julie Myers and an ex-deputy general counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

-Deborah Rhodes, 47, the U.S. attorney in Mobile, Ala., who was a Justice Department counselor.

-Alexander Acosta, 37, the U.S. attorney in Miami, who was an assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil rights division and a protege of conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

-John Richter, 43, the U.S. attorney in Oklahoma City, who was the chief of staff for the Justice Department's criminal division and acting assistant attorney general.

-Edward McNally, the U.S. attorney in southern Illinois, who was a senior associate counsel to President Bush.

-Matt Dummermuth, the U.S. attorney in Iowa, who was a Justice Department civil rights lawyer.

Though I'm not sure about McNally, and they've left off my personal favorite, Troy Eid.

In any case, this clearly struck close to the bone. You think DOJ didn't want any scrutiny focused on their newest USAs?

Comments

[Rayne]

And just in time to add to a new webpage, too. Just figured out how to add a bio page for each of them. Serendipitous, huh?

[Jeff]

One thing that is very interesting to me is the email down at the bottom at 9:49 from Sampson to Roehrkasse, Elston, Scolinos and Goodling, which says

Moreover, McKay, Heffelfinger, Iglesias, etc., had no federal pros experience when they took the job -- they were politicals.

Why was Heffelfinger included in there? He is cited down at the bottom of the McClatchy article saying something sort of understatedly critical of the Bush administration, and it could be that he was included in the back-and-forth between the McClatchy reporter and Roehrkasse. But it's odd to see his name mentioned in between two who were fired, since at that time the public story was that he was not a part of this at all.

Also, Sampson is wrong, if he is talking about Heffelfinger's appointment by Bush in 2001, which I think it is safe to say he is. Heffelfinger was the MN USA previously 1991-1993, appointed by Bush's father.

[AZ Matt]

The redacted e-mail reminded me of Picasso's work. I suspect they will eventually have to cough up that one. They certainly cannot deny it exist can they now?

Control is what this administration is about. Of course KKKarl is behind this but he takes marching orders ultimately from George. Win elections by controlling the vote. Voter intimidation on reservations, in Hispanic communities, and more intimidation or purging in African American communities. They control justice in key districts and few can oversee them.

In some places like Ohio they had Ken Blackwell to do the dirty deed. In Arizona all they needed was the Republican legislature to come up with ID laws and DoJ signs off on them. One big RICO conspiresy.

[Ishmael]

EW - kudos on the live-blogging today! Agreed, DOJ/Bushco did seem to be worried about the backlash if this became public - how many "Oh Shit!" emails are there that we don't know about - are they in Palast's latest?

[emptywheel]

Jeff

Heffelfinger, with Graves, was one of the most obvious people on the firing list before it was publicly announced. Not sure if it was public by this point, though, but they may have gotten to Heffelfinger by looking at Paulose, who had had her coronation by this point. Lucky MN, for having the most wacky USA of htme all.

I sort of suspect McClatchy might find a way to liberate this email chain. It was in a conversation with a spokesperson, after all. Can't really claim that is off the record.

[kirk murphy]

EW, you rawk.

Thanks fo the linky.

My fave so far:

From: Sampson, Kyle
Sent: January 25, 2007
To: Roherkasse, Brian; Elston, Michael(ODAG); Scolinos, Tasia; Goodling, Monica
Subject: Re: McClatchy update

"Morevover, McKay, Hefflingler, Iglesias, etc had no federal pros experience when they took the job -- they were politicals"

A few good men

p(?)103

OAG000001681

[Waccamaw]

ew -

Saw the part about McClatchy being kicked off the plane at e&p earlier today......you just added alcohol to the mixer!

And I've waited far too long to thank you for your many contributions to my knowledge base. Lord'a mercy, girl -- I sure am glad you're on *our* side!

[orionATL]

you've enunciated the bottom line:

"... pegged DOJ's plan: to install its own chosen successors at USA offices around the country to exercise centralized control over justice."

but i would add this was not doj's plan; it was the white house's plan.

following the 1) abrahmoff and 2)plame actions from doj,

it was the white house which

"intended to exercise centralized control over doj."

i would add, gonzales has functioned at the doj just as he did at the white house, as bush's counsel.

the m&m show today made it clear, at least to me, that the firings and replacement appointments came for the white house "judicial committee" (or some such name),

not from the doj.

[Melanie]

ew,

as always, outstanding work. orionATL's observation needs follow up.

[pseudonymous in nc]

Lucky MN, for having the most wacky USA of htme all.

And it was Paulose who tipped off Goodling about how Chiara's firing was set to become public, since a journo called her office asking if the newly-crowned Paulose was on the boot list, either not realising that she was newly-installed or thinking she was set to become the shortest-serving US Attorney on record. Interesting how quickly they became BFF.