Out Like A Lam- US Attorney Loses Job For Going After White Collar Crime & Political Corruption
January 17th, 2007 | by Ken Grandlund |Carol Lam, the US Attorney in San Diego was asked to resign by the Bush Administration for what they are calling “job performance issues.” Lam was originally appointed by President Bush in 2002. She will step down in mid-February. According to an unnamed official quoted in an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Lam is to be removed from her position because she failed to make smuggling and gun cases a priority and instead focused on prosecuting politicians and corporate executives who thought they were above the law, among them former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham.
Firing a US Attorney is somewhat unusual absent some form of misconduct according to one former federal prosecutor. Indeed, it seems as if Lam’s targeting of corporate execs and shady politicians just doesn’t fit the Bush concept of justice. After all, these people aren’t running around waving guns at citizens…they are just screwing them out of benefits or bankrupting their cities. Clearly no crimes there…not baaaad crimes anyhow.
The claims of ‘not going after enough smugglers’ is laughable considering the president’s own policy on border issues. He is as open-border as they come. Perhaps the real reason Lam has been swept aside has more to do with the very public Cunningham prosecution that began to shine a light on who the Republican Party really is. Cunningham was among the first in a series of scandals that rocked the GOP last year and ultimately helped sweep Democrats into power.
Retribution? Certainly seems so to me.
[tag]Carol+Lam, politics[/tag]
15 Responses to “Out Like A Lam- US Attorney Loses Job For Going After White Collar Crime & Political Corruption”
By Dusty on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for writing this up Ken..it’s important to show the hypocrisy of Bush’s bullshit moves..I will do a piece on my personal blog and link to this writeup as well.
By Dusty on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
After searching for other articles on this subject it seems Lam isn’t the only one being forced out. Kevin Ryan from the northern CA division is also on his way out. So far, a total of 11 U.S. Attorneys have been forced out using that wonderful excuse for all things bullshit..The Patriot Act.
From one of the articles:
The two are among 11 top federal prosecutors who have resigned or announced their resignations since an obscure provision in the USA Patriot Act reauthorization last year enabled the U.S. attorney general to appoint replacements without Senate confirmation.
First he stacks the courts..now he stacks the Prosecutors..Bush is such a ball of batshit..its maddening.
By Jersey McJones on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
And it’s part of the broader purge of competence from the federal government. Over the years, the GOP has purged the talent from the postal service, the IRS, prosecutors, NASA, the military - you name it. Meanwhile, crime and poverty are rising again, the physical and institutional infrastructure is crumbling, and oversight of the corporate world is more vital than ever as we are increasingly depedent on our investments for our future.
Nice job, stupid cons.
JMJ
By Tom Harper on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
I saw that same story. There’s definitely something suspicious going on; something rotten in Denmark. As Jersey put it, a “purge of competence” from the federal government.
By SteveIL on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
I remain skeptical regarding the views of “unnamed” sources. However, ken, while I disagree with you on tons of things, you are spot on here:
I couldn’t agree more with what you say here.
Let me add something that’s kinda not related, but kinda is related. I just finished a book written by New York Times reporter Selwyn Raab titled “Five Families” about the New York Mafia since 1931 (a significant year for Mafia buffs; I recommend the book for anybody interested in organized crime). In the “Afterward” he notes that lack of government interest (city, state, and federal) in finding out about the Mafia and it’s criminal activities allowed it to get huge and extremely difficult to prosecute (thank J. Edgar Hoover and the many corrupt local New York politicians of the past for this). After the successful RICO convictions of three bosses in the 1986 Commission trial, law enforcement spent most of the subsequent 15 years prosecuting the wiseguys hard and fast. Then, 9/11 occurred. Raab warns that much of the FBI (and even local police) work is being curtailed from its organized crime investigations in order to take on potential terrorists (extremely important as well, especially since these terrorist gangs probably work in a similar manner to the Mafia, but more lethal), and that this will lead to a resurgance of the Italian Mafia, easily the best at crime and being a corrupting influence, even if it isn’t as strong as it was. Raab states the main reason is that the Justice Department budget can’t handle the number of agents and prosecutors to handle both, and that this is true for much of local police departments. This is why, to me, it is of utmost importance and part of the government infrastructure to make sure there are enough law enforcement officials in place before any other domestic concerns (programs) are addressed by legislators. Anyway, just thought I’d add that.
Dusty,
As far as I’m concerned, the judges Bush has had put on the courts (and forget the Harriet Miers fiasco) have been great. Have to disagree with you there (surprise, surprise).
From the other post (and OT), I am a huge Nascar fan.
By ken grandlund on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
SteveIL- See, we can agree on some things. One of those “unnamed” sources has been confirmed by Rep. Darrell Issa, who confirmed that Lam was being asked to resign.
Dusty- I knew that others were getting the axe too and that the Patriot Act loophole would allow these seats to be filled indefinitely due to the vacancies. Nice work, eh? Fill up gov’t slots with cronies or hacks and watch the pieces fall apart. Conservatives always speak of smaller government, but this is the first administration to seek smaller AND incompetant government. I’ve noted before about the drain of qualified people in gov’t jobs under Bush. Alas, it continues.
Confirmation will come when we find out who the replacement will be.
By Jersey McJones on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
Ya’ know, Ken, maybe what they really meant was Smaller Minded Government…
JMJ
By SteveIL on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
ken said:
That’s good to know. Thanks for the update.
By Dusty on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
I do consider the prosecution of corrupt officials..yes, even Jefferson, to be more important than going after smugglers. They directly impact our entire nation and have lasting consequences.
The majority of illegal aliens get here through our airports and bus stations. They come in with visitors visas and never leave. A small percentage come over the border with a smuggler. Yes, going after smugglers is a good thing, but not a priority since the impact is far less than the traditional methods of entering the country.
SteveIL, do you go to Chicagoland?
By SteveIL on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
Dusty,
No, I haven’t. It’s one of those tracks where you gotta buy season tickets for all of the races, even the non-Nascar ones, and I don’t really want to see any more than just the Nextel Cup race (although I do like IRL racing once in awhile). I’ve been to Richmond and that was fun.
How about you? You get out to the California Speedway or even PIR?
By Dusty on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
I lived in Mesa AZ so I went to PIR a few times. CA. Speedway started out like Chicagoland, requiring Personal friggin Seat Licences..to which I said a heart Up Yours..
But supposedly you can now go to just the Cup races..they aren’t cheap and being disabled currently keeps me from attending them, but I don’t mind I would rather have a comfortable seat at home and not pay 10 bucks for a beer
By Dusty on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
oops that was a “hearty”..not a heart
By SteveIL on Jan 17, 2007 | Reply
I don’t know if Chicagoland changed. And I like having a nice close private bathroom nearby and a cheap beer (cheaper than what the vendors charge) with which to watch the races.
Whoo hoo!!! 3 1/2 hours of left turns (except for the two road races)!!! Can’t wait for the season to start!!!
Sorry for stayin’ off topic.
By sandyb on Jan 18, 2007 | Reply
What’s worse than that firing is the sentencing of 2 border patrol guys for shooting dirty illegal aliens. I wish they would be pardoned.