The Abramoff investigator's nomination was done in **June 2005**

[rainbow4321]

Googling brings up these articles....he was nominated back in June 2005. Given **everything** that has been exposed between then and now, the nomination doesn't seem to have influenced the team of investigators a whole lot.

http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/008751.asp
Wednesday, June 15, 2005

The Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section is leading the criminal probe into disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, The Hill newspaper reports.

The Public Integrity Section is part of the Criminal Division at DOJ. It consists of 26 attorneys at DOJ headquarters and 94 U.S. attorneys who investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials and election and conflict of interest crimes.

Heading the Abramoff probe is Mary K. Butler, a former attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida who was part of the independent counsel’s office into former Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt. Babbitt was cleared of allegations that he rejected an off-reservation casino after wealthy gaming tribes contributed to Democratic interests.

The Public Integrity Section chief is Noel Hillman, a former assistant U.S. attorney in New Jersey. President Bush has just nominated Hillman for federal judgeship in New Jersey.

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June 15, 2005


http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/061505/abramoff.html

A little-known but well-respected Justice Department trial lawyer is leading the government’s high-profile criminal investigation into disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

She is Mary K. Butler, one of 26 attorneys in the Public Integrity section and 94 U.S. attorneys around the country who investigate and prosecute cases of extortion, bribery, election crimes and criminal conflicts of interest.

Although there has been intense scrutiny of Abramoff and his associates, little is known about the career government attorneys investigating him. A Department of Justice spokesman declined to comment, but lawyers who represent a witness in the Abramoff investigation or who have dealt with Justice helped flesh out how the section operates.


Butler reports to Noel Hillman, section chief, whom President Bush nominated to a federal judgeship last week. Hillman, an avid surfer and Bruce Springsteen fan, was an assistant U.S. attorney in New Jersey before coming to Washington.

[woodsprite]

1. That's why they moved him out. They need someone more maleable. n/t