Policy, Priorities and Management
Margaret Chiara was commended for carrying out Bush policy on firearms prosecutions in one batch of documents used to build the case to fire Carol Lam, yet in the end, it didn’t matter — she was also fired for political expediency. They can’t even come up with a reason for her dismissal that makes sense.
From Moschella’s testimony before US House Judiciary Committee:
In carrying out these responsibilities they serve at the pleasure of the President and report to the Attorney General. If
a judgment is made that they are not executing their responsibilities in a manner that furthers the
management and policy of departmental leadership, then it is appropriate that they be
asked to resign so that they can be replaced by other individuals who will.
– page 20, document 1-8
To be clear, it was for reasons related to policy, priorities and management – what has
been referred to broadly as ‘performance-related” reasons – that these U.S. Attorneys were asked
to resign.
– page 20, document 1-8
Margaret Chiara to Paul McNulty, March 4, 2007
I respectfully request that you reconsider the rationale of poor performance as the basis for my dismissal. It is in our mutual interest to retract this erroneous explanation while there is still time. Please simply state that a presidentially appointed position is not an entitlement. No other explanation is needed.
Margaret Chiara to Paul McNulty, cc: Michael Elston, March 6, 2007
Today’s Congressional events make dear that I am, indeed, among the “USA – 8”. Shortly after his opening statement, but before citing the perceived deficiencies of my former colleagues, Will Moschella stated that the two United States Attorneys not present were dismissed because of management problems. Apparently Kevin Ryan (whom I do not know) and I share the same reason for termination.
Michael Elston told me on more than one occasion, that the rationale for dismissal was on a continuum of sorts and that I am on the de minimus end after Dan Bogden. It Is abundantly clear that this regrettable situation could have been better managed if the reasons for the dismissals were initially communicated to the affected United States Attorneys.
So, l now need to know what is the management problem to which Mr. Moschella referred?
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