By CongressDailyAM staff
© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, March 29, 2007

The U.S. Attorney Flap Previous coverage from CongressDaily: • Leahy Wants Answers (3/28/07) • House Passes Bill To Limit U.S. Attorney Appointments (3/27/07) • Conyers Wins Subpoenas (3/22/07) • A Constitutional Game Of Chicken (3/21/07) • Miers & Rove Can Be Interviewed But Will Not Testify (3/20/07)

Eight federal prosecutors were fired last year because they did not sufficiently support President Bush's priorities, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff says in prepared remarks to be delivered today to Congress.

"The distinction between 'political' and 'performance-related' reasons for removing a United States attorney is, in my view, largely artificial," said Kyle Sampson. The aide, who quit because of the furor over the firings, is to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A copy of his prepared remarks was obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press.

"A U.S. attorney who is unsuccessful from a political perspective... is unsuccessful," Sampson said.

Democrats have described the firings as an "intimidation by purge" and a warning to remaining U.S. attorneys to fall in line with Bush's priorities. Sampson maintained that adherence to the president's and attorney general's priorities was a legitimate standard.

"As presidential appointees, U.S. attorneys serve at the 'pleasure of the president' and may be asked to resign for almost any reason, with no public or private explanation," he said.