Bush removed another US attorney in Guam in 2002, abruptly ending Abramoff investigation

[seafan]

The recent spate of seven fired US attorneys was preceded in November, 2002 by the abrupt firing of this one, who was closing in on Jack Abramoff. Congress needs to invite this attorney before the committees as well.


Bush removal ended Guam investigation

US attorney's demotion halted probe of lobbyist

By Walter F. Roche Jr., Los Angeles Times
August 8, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A US grand jury in Guam opened an investigation of controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff more than two years ago, but President Bush removed the supervising federal prosecutor, and the probe ended soon after.

.....

In Guam, a US territory in the Pacific, investigators were looking into Abramoff's secret arrangement with Superior Court officials to lobby against a court reform bill then pending in Congress. The legislation, since approved, gave the Guam Supreme Court authority over the Superior Court.
In 2002, Abramoff was retained by the Superior Court in what was an unusual arrangement for a public agency. The Los Angeles Times reported in May that Abramoff was paid with a series of $9,000 checks funneled through a Laguna Beach, Calif., lawyer to disguise the lobbyist's role working for the Guam court. No separate contract was authorized for Abramoff's work.

Guam court officials have never explained the contractual arrangement. At the time, Abramoff was a well-known lobbying figure in the Pacific islands because of his work for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Saipan garment manufacturers, accused of employing workers in what critics called sweatshop conditions.

.....

The transactions were the target of a grand jury subpoena issued Nov. 18, 2002, according to the subpoena. It demanded that Anthony Sanchez, administrative director of the Guam Superior Court, turn over all records involving the lobbying contract, including bills and payments.
A day later, the chief prosecutor, US Attorney Frederick A. Black, who had launched the investigation, was demoted. A White House news release announced that Bush was replacing Black.
The timing caught some by surprise. Despite his officially temporary status as the acting US attorney, Black had held the assignment for more than a decade.

.....

His replacement, Leonardo Rapadas, was confirmed in May 2003 without any debate. Rapadas had been recommended for the job by the Guam Republican Party. Fred Radewagen, a lobbyist who had been under contract to the Gutierrez administration, said he carried that recommendation to top Bush aide Karl Rove in early 2003.

[Ian David]

1. Don't forget this guy: Gitmo win likely cost Navy lawyer his career

Gitmo win likely cost Navy lawyer his career
'Fearless' defense of detainee a stinging loss for Bush

By PAUL SHUKOVSKY
P-I REPORTER

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift -- the Navy lawyer who beat the president of the United States in a pivotal Supreme Court battle over trying alleged terrorists -- figures he'll probably have to find a new job.

Of course, it's always risky to compare your boss to King George III.

Swift made the analogy to the court, saying President Bush had overstepped his authority when he bypassed Congress and set up illegal military tribunals to try Guantanamo detainees such as Swift's alleged al-Qaida client, Salim Ahmed Hamdan.

The justices agreed, ruling 5-3 Thursday in favor of dismantling the current tribunal system.

More:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/276109_swift01.html

[Babel_17]

24. An amazing person

Btw, I googled and found out he was indeed passed over for promotion and thus compelled to retire. :(

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/08/AR2006100800603.html

[MUAD_DIB]

2. It never fails to amaze me just how dirty these little GOPig fekks really are.

They have give enough reason why their asses should just be removed from office (by force if necessary)then thrown into jail.

[Supersedeas]

3. the slimy pattern of cowards and snails

[izzie]

4. Thank God this is all making news.

Maybe the Far Right think a police state is fine but I am sure most in the GOP find it scary.I know how this party thinks about it.

[solara]

8. The MSM is carrying this story? nt

[izzie]

21. I tend to watch CNN more. And then c-span in the morning

I also tend to read news more than take it off TV. I do try to tune in and see what others are hearing at times.

[razors edge]

5. Why is it everytime I read this kind of shit

about this so called leader, one phrase immediately comes to mind.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism,

[Joanne98]

6. Off to the Greatest!

[robinlynne]

7. hell yes. I remember this!

[Drum]

9. Recommended!

and :kick:

[Divernan]

10. The USA in Guam was a holdover from the Clinton years.

USAs are appointed by presidents for four year terms, designed to match up with those presidents' terms of office. Their appointments expire within a month or two of a new president taking office, and they are expected to serve until their replacements have been appointed by the new presidents.
Evidently there were no fatcat GOP attorneys willing to spend 4 years in the remote, hot & humid Guam/Mariana Island slot! So here was the lone Clinton holdover among all the USAs working for the Bush Justice Dept.!

(The United States Attorneys(USAs) represent the U.S. federal government in the United States District Courts and the United States Courts of Appeals. Therefore there are 93 USAs stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam & the Northern Mariana Islands. One USA is assigned to each of these judicial districts, with the exception of Guam & the Marianas, where a single USA serves both.)

When Bush got by with firing this atty. without the whorish MSM making any fuss, it opened the door wide for him to allow the GOP to harass all the USAs and exert undue influence on them to go easy on GOPers and go after Dems. And it sent a message to all the Bush appointed USAs that they could be fired if they were too aggressive in going after GOP criminals.

[seafan]

12. GHWB appointed this US Attorney, Frederick A. Black, in 1991.

More

Abramoff spokesman Andrew Blum said the lobbyist ''has no recollection of his being investigated in Guam in 2002. If he had been aware of an investigation, he would have cooperated fully." Blum declined to respond to detailed questions.

The transactions were the target of a grand jury subpoena issued Nov. 18, 2002, according to the subpoena. It demanded that Anthony Sanchez, administrative director of the Guam Superior Court, turn over all records involving the lobbying contract, including bills and payments.
A day later, the chief prosecutor, US Attorney Frederick A. Black, who had launched the investigation, was demoted. A White House news release announced that Bush was replacing Black.

.....

At the time he was replaced, Black was directing a long-term investigation into allegations of public corruption in the administration of then-Governor Carl Gutierrez. The probe produced numerous indictments, including some of the governor's political associates and top aides.

Black, 56, had served as acting US attorney for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands since 1991, when he was named to the post by the president's father, President George H. W. Bush.
The career prosecutor, who held a senior position as first assistant before accepting the acting US attorney job, was demoted to a staff post. Black's demotion came after an intensive lobbying effort by supporters of Gutierrez, who had been publicly critical of Black and his investigative efforts.

.....

His replacement, Leonardo Rapadas, was confirmed in May 2003 without any debate.

.....

After taking office, Rapadas recused himself from the public corruption case involving Gutierrez. The new US attorney was a cousin of ''one of the main targets," according to a confidential memo to Justice Department officials.

'All in the family' takes on a whole new significance with the BFEE.

[Divernan]

19. Even better - Clinton was satisfied with this USA's work

and left him in place. I had read that he had been the USA for 10 years and was fired by W in 2002, so thought he had been a Clinton appointee. Thank you for correcting my error.

[autorank]

11. What a huge payoff...Abramoff was RADIOACTIVE... K&R

...and nobody really complained much. Well,we did but they hate us anyway so what does that matter.

HubertFlotz suggested that the other severn were cover to dump Lam in San Diego. Why, and Hubert and I both agree on this, Lam could not be allowed to offer indictments that would move the living closer to an investigation of HookerGate/LimoGate. Well, Ms. Lam showed the WH what true push back feels like in her 21 page, highly detailed indictment of Wilkes (Wilkes Industries) and Foggo (ex CIA). No HOokerGate that I could see but it advances the process and, guess what, now Conyers can go there quicker and more effusively with the public than a trial.

Excellent thread..

[Hubert Flottz]

23. Again we agree...this is an "Excellent thread"

The more light we shine on the inner workings of the Gonzo and Bonzo show, the more rot and decay we will uncover.

I think congress and the American people will connect the dots now, on this Mother Of All Scandals...HookerGate. The cat is too far out of the bag for the "MORALITY" party to duck and cover much longer.

One thing about Bushco, they really are number one, when it comes to their brazen unscrupulosity.

[Canuckistanian]

13. I remember that

I was surprised at the lack of coverage by the media....

Sorry, I had sudden flashback to the '70s and '80s, when journalistic integrity still existed.

It won't happen again.

[FourScore]

14. K&R

[fooj]

15. Thanks for reminding me.

I remember that!

[originalpckelly]

16. Now this is like breaking into Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist.

While the recent firings were like breaking into the DNC headquarters.

[IChing]

17. So many crimes and so little time

If you buy a kitten now..............





It will be dead by the time this whole thing is over.




We are talking years of trials, summons, litigation, impeachments, etc.
This cabal has been working to get where they are
since Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon.

[IChing]

18. Nominated before and a kick

[Fridays Child]

20. k/r

[usregimechange]

22. kick!

[donkeyotay]

25. But, if you dig too deeply into this story you'll connect Abramoff to the WH

and puppet boy already said he didn't know Jack.

[The Cleaner]

26. Speechless!!

:wow::wow::wow:

So Abramoff's scandalous activities are FAR WORSE than we had imagined...I wonder what else went on that we don't know about. Clearly this move by Bush was intentional to protect Abramoff. No wonder why Abramoff, DeLay, etc. have a constant smirk on their nasty faces. They know their man, Bush, will cover for 'em.
:argh: