Prosecutor Will Step Down From Lobbyist Case

[jbfam4]

Prosecutor Will Step Down From Lobbyist Case
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/27/politics/27judge.html?_r=1

By PHILIP SHENON and ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: January 27, 2006
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 — The investigation of Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist, took a surprising new turn on Thursday when the Justice Department said the chief prosecutor in the inquiry would step down next week because he had been nominated to a federal judgeship by President Bush.

The prosecutor, Noel L. Hillman, is chief of the department's public integrity division, and the move ends his involvement in an inquiry that has reached into the administration as well as the top ranks of the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.

The administration said that the appointment was routine and that it would not affect the investigation, but Democrats swiftly questioned the timing of the move and called for a special prosecutor.


The White House, which announced Mr. Bush's selection of Mr. Hillman for the court in a routine e-mail message on Wednesday that included 15 other nominations to judgeships and federal jobs, dismissed the calls for a special prosecutor.


Colleagues at the Justice Department say Mr. Hillman has been involved in day-to-day management of the Abramoff investigation since it began almost two year ago. The inquiry, which initially focused on accusations that Mr. Abramoff defrauded Indian tribes out of tens of millions of dollars in lobbying fees, is being described within the department as the most important federal corruption investigation in a generation.

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. Someone needs to check his Swiss bank account too!

I love this line: "the administration said the appointment was routine". Yea, routine for this administration.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/1097640

[FogerRox]

3. ALL hail King George

[longship]

2. Isn't that a bit blatant on the part of the Chimp?

Want to influence a prosecution against you? Press the "Easy" button. Appoint him to a cushy federal judgeship.