Three officials at the Justice Department broke the law by using politics to guide their hiring decisions, according to a new report by the department’s inspector general and internal ethics office. The report focused primarily on Monica Goodling (in photo), the department’s former White House liaison and senior counsel. But it determined that former chief of staff Kyle Sampson and Goodling’s predecessor, Jan Williams, also violated federal law and department policy. An earlier report concluded that the department improperly used politics to pick candidates for honors and internship programs. But the new report determined that the violations were much more extensive and included political hiring for some of the department’s most senior career positions, including immigration judges and assistant U.S. attorneys, the Washington Post reported.
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45 Comments
Surprise surprise surprise! Oh, wait, we already knew that.
Yeah, what a shock.
Politics going on in Washington D.C. I mean, like during a Democratic reign in Washington, no one is picked to run things just because they are Democrats (wink, wink.)
I mean, like during a Democratic reign
_____________________________
I get that Republicans are no better than Democrats. But, the Republican, moral values voter promise to America was to do better, not worse than Democrats. The Republicans power grab and the complicity of good “Christians” in the moral failings of our current administration aren’t to be treated like a big joke “(wink wink).” The continued disrespect for this country’s governance – expressly the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution – coming out of the “right” are a real pity and a detriment to the good this nation can accomplish. It’s sadder still that significant numbers of Americans are atracted to this shallow, glib, flippant attitude as if they and the country don’t deserve better.
Sounds like the administration has found them out and they are being dealt with.
Sounds like the DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS that insisted on an investigation of the BUSH Department of Justice has found them out and they are being dealt with.
Can you not lie or “distort the truth” for two whole seconds? Or is that asking too much of the shallow depth of your “moral values.”
Really Celtic. Are you sure? I doubt Congress can order the department’s inspector general and internal ethics office to investigate. Are you sure you are not the one playing politics with this issue?
The thing is, neither Republican or Democratic Parties have clean hands. THey are mostly all a bunch of corrupt lawyers with power their one true need. Bribes are probably just au jus to their real meat, power.
I doubt the Democratic led Congress had anything to do with the investigation, but no matter. Prosocute those found to have broken the law. But let us not stop there. Let’s root them all out, at all levels of government,and in all branches.
I especially like this little gem about monica goodling.
“In another, she rejected an experienced terror prosecutor to work on counterterror issues at a Justice Department headquarters office ”because of his wife’s political affiliations,” the report found. It also found she rejected at least one job applicant who was rumored to be a lesbian.”
OMG, denied employment because she was RUMORED to be lesbian?
WTF would they have done if it were true and not a rumor? Stone her to death? Send her to an ex-gay camp?
Bigots. Every last one of them.
Must be like looking into a mirror for some of you cons…
LJ, please.
“The thing is, neither Republican or Democratic Parties have clean hands.”
I’m no fan of the democrats either, but post a link to where someone was denied employment in a democratic DOJ administration for being RUMORED as a lesbian.
Sorry. That kind of blatent theocracy and bigotry is perfected by republicans.
Outlander, I’m sure you bore false witness against me regarding the portion of the Evangelical Manifesto that states its signatories don’t consider themselves as Christians in America to be “victims.” I know from experience what a liar you are. And, frankly, I lump your current effort at distorting the facts about the Republican, “Christian” abuses at the DOJ and the Democratic efforts to expose and correct them into the sum total of what I know first-hand of you being just such a liar. Why in the world would I take anything you say as truth when I know for a fact the way you’ve lied to and about me? Trust me, you don’t have the intellect that can pull that off.
… and keep in mind, the kind of employment we are speaking of here is career civil service, NOT politcal jobs or appointments.
Nice work repukes. They should have just hired terry, joe and phred to manage their hiring processs.
Oh, but I’m sure “justice” will be served. Pun intended.
Some democrat in congress will most assuredly write a STRONGLY worded letter….
big eye roll.
kumbaya!
I have the urge to hold hands…okay,it’s gone.
Evangelical Manifesto? What is that, and what does it have to do with this issue?
CelticBro, if you can’t handle a simple demand for you to support your argument, instead resorting to name calling, maybe you shouldn’t be here.
That little lady lawyer who was the liason between the White House and Justice and broke the law so effectively was one of 150 Liberty University law school graduates the Bush administration hired as part of pandering for the fundamentalist vote. She’s prettier than Fred. Funny how looks and credentials can be deceiving.
“I’m no fan of the democrats either, but post a link to where someone was denied employment in a democratic DOJ administration for being RUMORED as a lesbian.
Sorry. That kind of blatent theocracy and bigotry is perfected by republicans.”
You know what, I don;t care. Currently, while not vrey nice, and probably counterproductive, and discriminatory in practice, and stupid in general, I don;t think it’s against the law. And if you don;t think Democrats as well as Republicans break the law, you have some very lage blinders on. I said to prosecute those who have broken the law. The politics of it all are a different matter. And as far finding a link that a Democrat discriminated against someone who was a lesbian, I am just not that interested.Both parties are corrupted by power. I already know that. ANd yeah, I’ve known Democrats that were as big of bigots as any Republican. Old news. Not interested in looking for it to prove a point. It is my opinion, you are free to disagree.
Yeah, I’m not surprised you don’t remember that untruthful knock you made about me regarding the Manifesto which I posted about four times and you never bothered to read before lying about me and what I said, outlander. When I pointed out your failure to actually do some reading before you acted like you were the expert you never reappeared on the thread to address what you had lied about. Or to make an apology for breaking a Commandment and bearing false witness against me. Which is exactly the point of this post. You’re a liar. What you say is said to deceive about the facts. And what you have to say doesn’t deserve a response except to keep fresh in your mind and everyone else’s that you just lie.
She’s going to be well taken care of. As any useful minion is, she’ll be convicted, yet see no time. She’ll be well compensated with a cush job after she is duly pardoned by Obama or McCain.
Oh yeah! Well you’re lying about lying! Did not. Did so!
Hey, this is fun CelticBro. Just like third grade.
Pathetic.
I have to go Celtic. I’m not sure where you are coming from or what your problem is. But it is your problem.
Peace. Out.
Outlander as he surely will be the first to recognize Truth:
Mark 5, 1-20
“What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God?
I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.”
For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
He asked him, “What is your name?”
He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
Now there was on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding.
All the demons begged him, saying,
“Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”
Makes me feel sorry for the pigs. I can see why drowning was preferable.
“she’ll be convicted”
OMG, I am LAUGHING so hard…
ROFLMQAO!!!!!!!!
I bet she wont even receive a STRONGLY worded letter from the democrats in congress.
And the republican will reward her will another well paying cushy job.
Oh, and a plaque that says “well done, good and faithful servant”
Jesus WEPT!
L.A. is going to ban fast-food in impoverished areas?
A little foreshadowing of the new socialized health care we can look forward to?
YOU WILL OBEY THE FOUR FOOD GROUPS OR YOU WILL SUFFER!
WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS HEALTHY AND YOU WILL OBEY OUR FINDINGS!
Where are we going?
Well, KFG, they have to have at least a semblence of “justice”…I’m laughing with you.
The biggest conseqquence for her I’ve heard is losing her law license.
A seasoned prosecuter with experience sending terrorists to jail was passed over because his wife was a democrat. You know, sleeping with democrats can give you funny ideas. Instead a less experience republican was hired – I mean Bushco’s main job and credibility rating was based on their ability to keep us safe. And, they certainly were interested in doing that until politics were more important.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92986301
Welcome to the Goodling/Bush Bannana Republic (not the store, a real one).
From the story linked in the thread lead in:
———–
The actions of Ms. Goodling, Mr. Sampson and other aides constituted official misconduct in violation of federal Civil Service laws and the department’s internal policies, the report concluded. Those who violated civil service laws cannot generally be prosecuted under criminal law.
All but one of the Justice Department officials cited in the report for misconduct have now left the department, meaning they are not subject to internal discipline. The report recommended that the Justice Department consider disciplinary action against the only remaining official, John Nowacki, who investigators found had drafted a statement to the news media concealing Ms. Goodling’s misconduct even though he knew the statement to be inaccurate.
Ms. Goodling and other lawyers named in the report could face disciplinary action from their local bar associations, including the possible loss of their bar licenses, officials said.
“Ms. Goodling and other lawyers named in the report could face disciplinary action from their local bar associations, including the possible loss of their bar licenses, officials said.”
Lose her law license? Oh PUL-EEEZE!
Because, um, we know the bar associations are SO effective at policing their own…
The only time lawyers get in trouble are for trust account violations, and I really believe that is because other lawyers cant STAND the thought of someone else perhaps making or pocketing a buck.
Justice? heheheheheheheheheheh….
Steven, I think I’d have a BETTER shot at justice in a banana republic than in Kansas.
In this state, the bar association just encourages them…
Does anyone have an idea if Goodling’s immunity for testifying before congress gives her any help in avoiding consequences for all of her unlawful actions?
Take a look at her. This girl/woman who could pass as a high school student council president was the third most powerful person in the Gonzales Justice Department. The stunning incompetence of this administration through and through is just mind boggling. BushWorld a place where ideology always trumps competence.
“The biggest conseqquence for her I’ve heard is losing her law license.”
Heheheh. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give me a call when that happens, or when she gets that STRONGLY worded letter from democrats in congress.
Hell, I’ll be as old as mcsame if and when either of those happens…
“Does anyone have an idea if Goodling’s immunity for testifying before congress gives her any help in avoiding consequences for all of her unlawful actions?”
Naw, I think she got blanket immunity when she graduated from jesus’ own law school. Then sealed the deal with her law license.
I love how they can say “justice” departement with a straight face. And I do mean STRAIGHT!
I never heard she got immunity. I heard she took the 5th. Would she have needed to take the 5th if she had immunity?
IIRC, she wanted immunity before she would even APPEAR before congress. Why? Well, heheheh, wait for it… she was afraid of a PERJURY trap!! (Imagine@) Then… when she did appear, she took the fifth for some questions anyway.
I guess she was REALLY afraid of those STRONGLY worded letters sent by the democrats….
Rampant politicization of the Justice Department gets total silence from Fox News.
Yesterday, the Department of Justice released a report concluding that agency officials “violated both federal law and Department policy” by basing the hiring, firing, and promoting of some Department applicants and officials on politics. Though the report could result in criminal perjury charges against some DOJ officials, Fox News has decided the report is not worth highlighting. The station devoted three sentences to the report yesterday, in the middle of the day; none of the prime-time shows covered the report. Both CNN and MSNBC devoted prime-time coverage to the story.
Thanks for bringing this story up on WeBlog Mr. Brownlee
The reason there will be no prosecution here is because there is a burden of proof when you press charges in a court of law and ‘rumored to be’ and ’seemed to be passed over because his wife was a democrat’ wouldn’t get far in a court of law. Sounds as if this report was conjecture and no substance.
Still beating that dead horse and thinking they are getting somewhere.
Will the dems ever get any substantial work done?
As we learn of the abuses let’s use that increased knowledge and awareness to be watch dogs for future administrations. Dan Froomkin asks the question I want answered. Investigate, investigate! Get to the root of this corrupt administration!
——-
“The latest investigation into the overt politicization of the Department of Justice has meticulously documented how a handful of young political appointees blatantly violated federal laws and Justice Department policies by hiring career employees based on the extent of their devotion to Republican dogma.
But the report doesn’t address who is responsible for creating the culture of corruption in which these aides thrived.
Who asked them to behave this way? Or, barring an explicit request, how did they come to conclude that this was what their superiors expected of them? Who twisted the Justice Department, designed to operate with a large degree of independence, into a political adjunct of the White House?
And is it really just a coincidence that Monica Goodling, the central culprit of this latest report, held the title of White House liaison?”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/07/29/BL2008072901203.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
…and what consequences will these DOJ folks face for breaking the law?
(crickets chirping)
Linda I couldn’t agree with you more. We in both parties have to be watchdogs and vote with the power we have. We need to see corruption wherever it is and work to get rid of it.
Farmgrrl many who break laws never face any consequences. You have seen this over and over as you have pointed out. Some right here in Kansas.
But one thing we can’t do is police people for their thoughts. If there is concrete evidence that can be proved in court then move this case to a court of law. Trying it in the press accomplishes nothing. It is just a smoke screen to mask the inactivity of our lawmakers.
Should any White House be forced to hire people who will deliberately undermine the policy of said White House?
This is absurd.
Pick your issue, Abortion, War, Labor Relations, Gun rights —
Should any President be forced to hire someone who is antagonistic to the views of that Administration?
How many conservative Republicans did Bill Clinton hire?
So then you are opposed to checks and balances Franklin.
See how easy that game is to play. Slipper Slope Fallacies are easy to use and easier to spot.
Agreed Obser. A social issue (people’s thoughts) can’t be addressed in a political or legal manner.
As for Linda’s question, I’m afraid that will remain unanswered. The culprit will get away with it just as the high level gang member will get away with instigating illegal behavior. We see that on both sides of the political debate.
>Should any White House be forced to hire people who will deliberately undermine the policy of said White House?<
I guess you don’t know there is a difference in hiring career positions and political positions for the DOJ Franklin. Goodling improperly subjected candidates for certain career positions to the same politically based evaluation she used on candidates for political positions. That is against federal law.
Do the Dems. here get to give an “I told you so”.
#
Franklin
Posted July 29, 2008 at 11:55 am | Permalink
Should any White House be forced to hire people who will deliberately undermine the policy of said White House?
This is absurd.
Pick your issue, Abortion, War, Labor Relations, Gun rights —
Should any President be forced to hire someone who is antagonistic to the views of that Administration?
How many conservative Republicans did Bill Clinton hire?
====================================================
Franklin, you phukin’ moron. Read the report on the LAWS that were violated. LAWS are written to be followed, not violated, which may comes as a surprise to you. But since you seem to believe this administration is incapable of violating laws, then I suppose your rose colored glasses do you just fine.
It will make no difference anyway, as bush will pardon them not matter what. Hell, he’ll probably pardon himself from any future problems he has. Sheesh, this whole political system is broke, and neither mcsame or obama, for all their promises, will or can do anything to fix it. We need new blood, not beholden to business, who will govern of the people, by the people and for the people. Something we definitely ain’t got now.
truly enjoyed finding this text – keep up the good work!!!!