WP editorial: "...that strikes at the core of what the Department of Justice is."

[DeepModem Mom]

'That Strikes at the Core'
Monica Goodling concedes that a political line was crossed in hiring at the Justice Department.
Thursday, May 24, 2007; Page A30

WHEN HE TESTIFIED before a House Judiciary subcommittee this month, former deputy attorney general James B. Comey said he was horrified by reports that the department was examining the political affiliations of lawyers being considered for career positions. "If that was going on, that strikes at the core of what the Department of Justice is," Mr. Comey said.

Yesterday, promised that her testimony could not be used against her in a criminal prosecution, Monica M. Goodling, former senior counsel to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, admitted to doing exactly that as she screened applicants for prosecutorial positions. "I know I took political considerations into account on some occasions . . . I know I crossed the line," Ms. Goodling said. This was, for the reasons Mr. Comey suggested, a sad moment for anyone who cares about the Justice Department.

It was sad, as well, that so many Republican committee members chose to ignore this ugly fact and heap praise on Ms. Goodling. "I think you have . . . shown people who are here. . . . why people in the Justice Department thought you were worthy of your job," said Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.). "Millions of Americans now know a lot more about you, and they're proud to have somebody like you serving in government," said Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) Violating the law against politicizing the civil service is no grounds for pride.

Ms. Goodling's testimony didn't do much to advance public understanding of the events that landed her there: the firing of eight, or nine, U.S. attorneys. If anything, the story became more muddled, as Ms. Goodling -- having been accused by Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty of failing to be forthcoming in briefing him -- in turn accused Mr. McNulty of giving misleading testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Nor did Ms. Goodling make her former boss look any better: She described an "uncomfortable" meeting alone with the attorney general, after the furor over the firings erupted, at which he related his understanding of the facts. "I did not know if it was appropriate for us to both be discussing our recollections of what had happened, and I just thought maybe we shouldn't have that conversation," Ms. Goodling said....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/23/AR2007052301422.html?nav=hcmodule