Bush aide admits hiring boasts (Schlozman)

[maddezmom]

Source: The Globe

By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 6, 2007

WASHINGTON -- A Bush administration official admitted yesterday that he had boasted about hiring conservatives and Republicans at the Justice Department, but he nevertheless insisted that he broke no civil service rules against taking partisan affiliation into account when hiring government lawyers.

Judiciary Committee about his record as a supervisor at the Civil Rights Division from 2003 to 2006, said he never asked questions about job applicants' political views or partisan affiliation. Under civil service laws, politics cannot be used as a factor when hiring career nonpartisan prosecutors and other lawyers.

His testimony followed the admission last month by a former Justice Department official, Monica Goodling, that she had "crossed the line" and used a political litmus test when hiring for nonpartisan positions, contrary to civil service laws. Goodling received prosecutorial immunity in exchange for her testimony, unlike Schlozman.

Democrats on the committee heatedly questioned Schlozman throughout the two-hour hearing, the latest installment in the ongoing probe into the firing of nine US attorneys last year and broader allegations of politicization at the Justice Department.

"Did you ever boast to anyone that you had hired a certain number of Republicans or conservatives for any division or section at the Department of Justice?" asked Senator Charles Schumer , Democrat of New York.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/06/06/bush_aide_admits_hiring_boasts/

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Leahy To Schlozman: ‘You’re Trying To Break Gonzales’ Record’ Of Saying ‘I Don’t Recall’

Today before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Justice Department official Bradley Schlozman was supposed to testify on his role in the politicization of the Department’s Civil Rights Division and political cases he pursued against liberals while U.S. attorney in Missouri.

But instead of explaining his actions, Schlozman repeatedly claimed ignorance on the many scandals in which he’s been involved. At one point, committee members could no longer take it. Fed up, chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) held up a Justice Dept. manual on election offenses and said:

You know, I tend to think that perhaps you use this more as a doorstop than as something you actually had to follow. … I think you’re trying to break Attorney General Gonzales’ record of saying you “don’t recall” or you “don’t remember.” I’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve said that.

ThinkProgress has put together a compilation of Leahy’s statements and Schlozman’s many “I don’t recall” moments. Watch it:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/05/leahy-schlozman/

[maddezmom]

1. The Little Red Book

The question was simple: was he familiar with the little red book? No, not the iconic instructions of chairman Mao, but the Justice Department manual for prosecuting election cases.

"Somewhat familiar," Brad Scholzman, a Justice Department official replied.

A bit peeved, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) pushed, "Were you somewhat familiar with it or were you familiar with it?

"I was familiar with it, yes, senator," Schlozman corrected.

"That's a little bit better," Leahy counseled.

~snip~

Under questioning from Leahy about the timing of the indictment, Scholzman responded, "The DOJ does not time prosecutions to elections."

To this, Leahy fumed and then screamed, "Well yes they do. The fact is would it have changed the outcome of the prosecution had you waited a few weeks to bring it?" Leahy asked.

"I doubt there would be any impact," Schlozman responded.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2007/06/the_little_red_.html

[gratuitous]

2. "Whuddya gonna do about it . . . Punk?"

"Yeah, I broke the law. What of it?"

Is the picture clearing up for you, Senators? Getting the message about this administration? Your choices are 18 more months of this naked corruption, or stopping it at last. What will it be?

[TheWatcher]

12. We will get 18 months of Corruption

And then 8 years of pandering to us that they "feel our pain."

Until we wake up and realize both parties need to be cleansed.

[Ilsa]

3. I've been behind in the news recently with my kids home from

school. I had no idea it was Schlozman the article was talking about until the fourth paragraph.

The leaders' arrogance doesn't "trickle down" with these people, it avalanches.

Edited for clarity.

[maddezmom]

4. Think Progress has a really good recap here

Bradley Schlozman 101: How To Politicize The Justice Department
Today at 2:30 pm ET, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing featuring Bradley Schlozman, the controversial political appointee at the Justice Department who has emerged as a central figure in both the U.S. attorneys scandal and the politicization of the Justice Department under the Bush administration.

Schlozman, who is currently working in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, also served for three years in the Justice Dept’s Civil Rights Division. In March 2006, he was appointed, without Senate confirmation, to replace Todd Graves as a U.S. Attorney in Missouri.

In advance of today’s hearing, he’s an overview of his dirty work:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/05/schlozman-101/

[tanyev]

5. K & R

[pberq]

6. Kick & Nominated

[The Stranger]

7. Watching Schumer barbecue that creep was a thing of beauty.

Good job (for a change), Chuck.

[Judi Lynn]

8. You bet it was. Can still be seen in replay by interested DU'ers here:

Senate Judiciary Cmte. Hearing on the Firing of U.S. Attorneys
http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100

This morning the program is right at the top of the list.

Schloman may have set a new record in not being able to "recall" or "remember." You'd think it would make them too concerned about looking like criminals to resort to something this conspicuous.

[Orsino]

9. That's modern America...

Admit only to exactly what you've been caught doing.

[Supersedeas]

10. he can remember the boasting -- but not details regarding the law...

[Trillo]

11. They say they were following all the rules (laws)

as they broke the laws.

Doublespeak.