May 14, 2007

DOJ Second-In-Command Resigns

Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty today became the latest Justice official to step down in the wake of criticism of the firings of eight federal prosecutors late last year. His letter of resignation to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales cited family and financial concerns as the reasons for his exit, but ABC News is reporting that "anger" at being linked to the ongoing scandal over the firings may have been a significant factor in McNulty's decision.

In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in February, McNulty insisted that "in this administration U.S. attorneys are never -- repeat, never -- removed, or asked or encouraged to resign, in an effort to retaliate against them, or interfere with, or inappropriately influence a particular investigation, criminal prosecution, or civil case." But according to U.S. News & World Report, Gonzales was unhappy with McNulty's testimony on the firing of U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins of Arkansas.

Today, Gonzales released a statement praising McNulty for more than two years of service as his deputy and more than eight years with the department.

Posted at 6:10 PM
Posted to: Alberto Gonzales, Attorney Scandal, Bush Administration
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