(Denver) Ex-prosecutor doesn't doubt politics had role

[maddezmom]

Source: Denver Post

Ex-prosecutor doesn't doubt politics had role
William Leone, who was reportedly on a list of potential firings, says he assumes "political reasons" kept him being named the permanent U.S. attorney for Colorado.
By Bruce Finley
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 05/18/2007 01:05:21 AM MDT


A former acting U.S. attorney for Colorado who reportedly was considered by the Bush administration for firing said Thursday that he presumed he didn't get the permanent job for "political reasons."

"If you do that job well, and do it long enough, you're going to make some people angry. That just comes with the territory. I don't know if that happened, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did," said William Leone, now in private practice after acting as Colorado's top federal prosecutor from December 2004 through August 2006.

McClatchy Newspapers and The Washington Post, citing sources familiar with secret documents, separately reported Thursday that Leone was one of at least 26 U.S. attorneys that the Justice Department considered dismissing in 2005 and 2006.

U.S. district judges in Denver voted unanimously to keep Leone on the job while White House officials and senators weighed candidates for an official appointment. Instead, Troy Eid was confirmed in August as permanent U.S. attorney.

Leone said he was proud to work as acting U.S. attorney and wanted to continue as long as possible but lacked the "rich presidential pedigree" required for an appointment.



Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5923175