Wood resigning as U.S. attorney in western Missouri

[Robbien]

Source: AP

KANSAS CITY | The top federal prosecutor in western Missouri is stepping down at the end of the month.

U.S. Attorney John F. Wood issued a statement Wednesday saying he submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, effective Feb. 28.

Wood was appointed U.S. attorney for the western district of Missouri by then-President George W. Bush. He was sworn into office in April 2007.

A spokesman says Wood has accepted a position as a partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed.

As U.S. attorney, Wood reorganized the office to create new units in such areas as terrorism and national security

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1041476.html

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Why this is important: Wood was likely appointed USA as part of Bush's Attorney Purge, and he is the husband to Julie Myers of ICE, the person most suspected of leaking Obama's Aunt's name during the campaign.

Wood replaced US Attorney Graves who was on the hit list of attorneys to be purged by Bush. Wood was previously a counselor to Ashcroft and Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Julie Myers is a real doozy

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Julie L. Myers as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, two years after President Bush appointed her to the position amid questions about her qualifications to lead the government's second-largest law-enforcement agency. Myers appointment were approved by a voice vote. Besides concerns with whether she had enough experience to lead the agency, critics noted that she was engaged -- and is now married -- to John F. Wood, who was chief of staff to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and is now the U.S. attorney in Kansas City. Retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is her uncle. Julie Myers was Chertoff's chief of staff when he led the Justice Department's criminal division.

But that was not the end of the controversy. Myers' appointment ran into trouble again this fall when she gave the "most original" costume award to a white employee who came to the agency's Halloween party dressed as an escaped prisoner with dreadlocks and darkened skin. The incident elicited an apology from Myers and a "leave' from the agency.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/003007.php

Shortly after the immigration status of Obama's aunt was leaked, Myers announced she would be leaving ICE on Nov. 15th.

So, John F Wood, loyal Bushie dug in at the DoJ is now leaving.

[UpInArms]

1. Wood replaced Bradley Schlozman (resigned in disgrace) who was a Bush stoolie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Schlozman

Bradley J. Schlozman (born February 6, 1971) is a American attorney who served as acting head of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. An internal report by the Office of Professional Responsibility found that Schlozman violated rules against politicized hiring and lied to Congress about it while in that role.<1>

Schlozman was appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri by Alberto Gonzales and assumed office on March 23, 2006.<2> Schlozman replaced Todd P. Graves. In April 2007, Schlozman left the U.S. Attorney position to work at the Executive Office for United States Attorneys.<3>

Schlozman and his office have come under review by Congressional and Senate investigators regarding the dismissal of U.S. Attorneys and inappropriate politicization of his positions.<4> The Department of Justice Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility found that Schlozman had violated the law and made false statements to Congress about his hiring decisions. While Schlozman testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that his personnel decisions were not based on party ideology, the report cited emails and other communications in which Schlozman discussed hiring "right-thinking Americans" and ridding the Civil Rights Division of "pinkos", "commies", and attorneys perceived to be unacceptably liberal.<5><6> Federal prosecutors declined to file charges of criminal perjury against Schlozman, drawing criticism from Senate Democrats.<7> However, in his Senate confirmation hearing, Attorney General nominee Eric Holder called Schlozman's actions "deplorable" and vowed to re-examine the case for possible prosecution.<8>

Schlozman resigned from the Department of Justice on August 17, 2007,<9><3> and accepted a position with the Hinkle Elkouri Law Firm in Wichita, Kansas.<10>

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Wood was put in to attempt to cover up this POS's mess

[Robbien]

2. Thanks for the clarification

The site I got the Woods/Graves replacement from skipped over the sleeze Schlozman mess.

Anyway, it is good to see Woods gone.

[UpInArms]

4. agreed -

I was appalled by the entire thing - Todd Graves is Sam Graves' (R-6th Dist MO Rep) brother and he was not a bad AG - this whole thing stunk to high heaven and I really wish that something would be done about the Rovian politization of our justice system.

:hi:

[BlueJessamine]

3. That still leaves 50 other U.S. Attorneys hired by Bush's politicized DOJ

Patrick Fitzgerald, 50 other federal prosecutors from the Bush regime can remain

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x426437


Bush Justice Department politicizes absolutely everything

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/24/185427/162


Internal Justice Dept. Report Cites Illegal Hiring Practices

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008...


Plame affair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plame_affair

[No Elephants]

5. Good Lord. Please someone tell me they are not ALL racist.