Reasons given for prosecutors firings

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - What the Justice Department has said about six U.S. attorneys who were asked to resign. Under each prosecutor are comments from previous department-issued performances reviews and then statements Tuesday by William Moschella, an associate deputy attorney general, about the reasons given that the prosecutors were asked to step down. He testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee.

CAROL LAM, U.S. attorney in San Diego

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY: "Her gun prosecution numbers are at the bottom of the list. ... (On immigration cases), her numbers for a border district just didn't stack up."

2005 PERFORMANCE REVIEW: "An effective manager and respected leader ... respected by the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and (U.S. attorney's office) staff."

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JOHN McKAY, U.S. attorney in Seattle

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY: "The department really had policy differences and were concerned with the manner in which he went about advocating the particular policies ... on information sharing. He spent quite a considerable amount of time advocating for a particular system."

2006 PERFORMANCE REVIEW: "An effective, well-regarded and capable leader ... (who) established strategic goals that were appropriate to meet the priorities of the department."

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BUD CUMMINS, U.S. attorney in Little Rock, Ark.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY: "His was not for performance-based reasons. ... The administration asked Mr. Cummins to move on only after we knew that he had indicated he was not going to serve out the remainder of his term."

2006 PERFORMANCE REVIEW: "Very competent and highly regarded by the federal judiciary, law enforcement and civil client agencies. ... Established strategic goals that were appropriate to meet the priorities of the department."

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DANIEL BOGDEN, U.S. attorney for Nevada

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY: "There was no particular deficiency. There was an interest in seeing renewed energy and renewed vigor in that office, really taking it to the next level."

2003 PERFORMANCE REVIEW: "Highly regarded by the federal judiciary, the law enforcement and civil client agencies, and the staff of the (U.S. attorney's office). He was a capable leader."

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DAVID IGLESIAS, U.S. attorney for New Mexico

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY: "The district was in need of greater leadership. ... Mr. Iglesias had delegated to his first assistant the overall running of his office. U.S. attorneys are hired to run the office."

2005 PERFORMANCE REVIEW: "Experienced in legal, management and community relations work and was respected by the judiciary, agencies and staff. ... Had a well conceived strategic plan that complied with department priorities."

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PAUL CHARLTON, U.S. attorney in Arizona

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY: "Mr. Charlton had undertaken in his district a policy with regard to the taping of FBI interviews and set a policy in place there that had national ramifications. It did not go through the whole policy process. ... On the death penalty, we have a process in the Department of Justice. It is the one area that is nondelegable by the attorney general which (Mr. Charlton), in a particular case was told and authorized to seek in a particular case. He chose instead to continue to litigate after that long and exhaustive process."

2003 PERFORMANCE REVIEW: "Well respected by the (U.S. attorney's office) staff, investigative and civil client agencies, local law enforcement community, Native American nations, and judiciary regarding his integrity, professionalism and competence."

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070307/ap_on_go_co/prosecutors_why_fired [link]