MYSTERY: Wyoming USA resigns effective midnight !! = "Hatch Act offers a possible explanation"

[L. Coyote]

Wyoming U.S. attorney announces resignation
By MEAD GRUVER Thursday, June 07, 2007
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/06/07/ap-state-wy/d8pk78mg0.txt


CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Wyoming U.S. Attorney Matthew Mead, mentioned as a potential nominee for Wyoming's open U.S. Senate seat, announced Thursday that he would resign at midnight.

Mead offered no explanation for his resignation. ....

While Mead wouldn't explain his reasons for quitting, the federal Hatch Act offers a possible explanation: It restricts Department of Justice employees' participation in partisan political activity. ....

=========================
More on Hatch Act violations: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1058201

[MadMaddie]

1. Man these guys are falling like a flow of rocks down a

mountainside.....

They are kinda stupid though...they think resigning will make their illegal activities get dissapeared....

:popcorn:

[aquart]

6. I read it as resigning to take the Senate seat.

Has he been implicated in anything?

[MadMaddie]

8. You read it right...and I didn't

darn...have to put the popcorn away!

[aquart]

11. Now, now...this is entertaining, too.

It tells us that the BEST thing you can be if you're a Republican IS ON THE LIST.

Think about it.

[Sydnie]

15. Keep the popcorn out ...

Let's wait and see if Lynne Cheney has something to say about that! :rofl:

[Divernan]

2. Sounds like some wheelin & dealin going on in Wyoming

I seriously doubt this USA would resign his post unless he'd been given assurances that a deal had been struck between the Dem Governor and the GOPers doing the nominating.

[ellenfl]

4. yup. he's resigning to take that empty seat. eom

[L. Coyote]

5. He could retire after being nominated and selected. The suggestion is malfeasence.

This is a real unique resignation--midnight the same day--and probably a USA firing, not just a suggestion to offer a resignation, I'm guessing.

[aquart]

9. Or...being even "third tier" to be fired is a cachet now.

If those sickos wanted him out, he must therefore be clean and good.

Republicans ARE that desperate.

[L. Coyote]

13. The other inference is an intention to act politically, to overcome the Hatch hurdle.

Because a USA cannot engage in politics, because of the Hatch Act, another possible interpretation is Mead is resigning to become a political actor, trying to become Senator.

[aquart]

10. Now that makes serious sense.

The Dem gov HAS to take a Republican, he can insist on a clean one and what greater proof is there these days than being on the list?

[bluerum]

3. I don't see Meads name on any of those emails.

Does it have more to do with him quitting so that he can be nominated for the vacant senate seat?

He (Mead) pointed out that Thomas nominated him to be U.S. attorney in 2001.

"I'm just very grateful for him and thinking a lot about his family and what he meant, his life and legacy," Mead said. "I think all focus should be on Sen. Thomas."

Speculation has circulated since Thomas's death that Mead might be interested in succeeding him, but Mead has remained staunchly noncommittal.

Under state law, the state Republican Central Committee has until June 20 to submit to Freudenthal three nominees to replace Thomas. Freudenthal then has five days to choose a successor, who will serve until 2009 unless that person is elected to the job next year.

[Warpy]

7. Sadly, it could just be because he's expecting

to become a Senator.

I know, I'm a pessimist. However, that seems the most likely explanation to me.

[aquart]

12. Nothing to be sad about.

We knew we were getting another conservative Republican. But one who appeared (albeit briefly) ON THE LIST?

The times they are achangin'.

[originalpckelly]

14. What that means is that this person had principles, but was willing to sell out...

And do whatever they wanted these people to do.

[Generic Brad]

16. If Lynn Cheney takes the seat will he "unresign"?

:shrug:

[L. Coyote]

17. Dick Cheney's choice is probbly Tom Sansonetti

Former Justice Department official Tom Sansonetti has also been named as a potential successor. He was Solicitor of the Department of the Interior from 1990-1993, and served as Interior's liaison to The White House Counsel's office and the Department of Justice. Recently served as Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources. Also, Member, Federalist Society.

Statement
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The Nomination of Thomas L. Sansonetti, to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
November 6, 2001 - http://judiciary.senate.gov/print_member_statement.cfm?id=122&wit_id=51

The Honorable Orrin Hatch
United States Senator , Utah

"He served as one of the six federal negotiators for the Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement, and he was appointed Counsel to the Endangered Species Committee for the Spotted Owl hearings in Oregon. Previous to that, he served two years as the Interior Department's Associate Solicitor for Energy and Resources. Equally important, Mr. Sansonetti has also gained familiarity representing private-sector clients as a lawyer specializing in environment and natural resources law, including cases regarding endangered species, water law, mining regulations and Superfund sites."

[L. Coyote]

18. Wyoming U.S. Attorney Quits, Plays Coy on Senate Appointment

Wyoming U.S. Attorney Quits, Plays Coy on Senate Appointment
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/06/wyoming_us_attorney_quits_deni.html


In a move that could signal his hopes to replace the late Sen. Craig Thomas, the U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, Matthew Mead, has resigned, effective immediately.

In an interview with The Washington Post's Dan Eggen, Mead said he submitted his resignation Wednesday and made it effective at the close of business today. But he declined to say whether he was in the running to replace Thomas, the Wyoming senator who died on Monday.

.............

Mead acknowledged that he would have to step down as U.S. attorney in order to be considered for the Senate seat, but he said his decision should not be taken as confirmation that he is in the running for the job.

Mead, who became Wyoming's U.S. attorney in October 2001, received a bit of unwelcome attention last month when The Washington Post revealed that he was one of 30 federal prosecutors who had appeared on lists of U.S. attorneys considered for dismissal last year.

Mead's name appeared once, in January 2006, on a list compiled by D. Kyle Sampson, former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. .......