WTF??? We are footing Gonzo's legal bills??? At $24,000 a month???

[Hepburn]

Why are taxpayers footing Gonzales's legal bills?

Two members of Congress are demanding answers following revelations that taxpayers are paying up to $24,000 per month to foot former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's legal bills.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), who chair the Judiciary committees in their respective chambers, wrote to Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Monday demanding to know the details of the arrangement.

At issue is a lawsuit filed against Gonzales alleging that he oversaw discrimination in two Justice Department programs aimed at recruiting law students into federal service. During his time in office, department officials systematically denied entry to liberal applicants and only admitted Republican supporters.

Administration of the Department of Justice Honor Program and Summer Law Intern Program were two of the many areas in which Gonzales is alleged to have politicized the Department. The politicization scandal, best known for the firing of nine US Attorneys who refused to pursue partisan charges, contributed to Gonzales's resignation in disgrace last year.

Several law students who were denied entry to the honors and intern programs are suing Gonzales, alleging they were unfairly disqualified. The Justice Department is paying Gonzales's bills.

More...

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Lawmakers_ask_Why_are_taxpayers_footing_1124.html

Taxpayers to cover Gonzales' legal bills
Department of Justice to pay a lawyer to defend him in civil case

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has agreed to pay for a private lawyer to defend former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales against allegations that he encouraged officials to inject partisan politics into the department's hiring and firing practices.

Lawyers from the Justice Department's civil division often represent department employees who are sued in connection with their official actions. However, Gonzales' attorney recently revealed in court papers that the Justice Department had approved his request to pay private attorney's fees arising from the federal lawsuit.

Dan Metcalfe, a former high-ranking veteran Justice Department official who filed the suit on behalf of eight law students, called the department's decision to pay for a private attorney rather than rely on its civil division "exceptional."

"It undoubtedly will cost the taxpayers far more," he said.

According to a person with knowledge of the case, the Justice Department has imposed a limit of $200 an hour or $24,000 a month on attorneys' fees. Top Justice Department attorneys generally earn no more than $100 per hour. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

More...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/6120106.html

:grr: What the hell gives with this bullshit?

He breaks the law, gets sued civily for the damages...and the U.S. gets stuck with his legal bills?????

GMAFB!!!!!!!! $24,000 a month to defend that POS!?!?!?!?!?!

[marmar]

1. Can't he represent himself in court?

n/t

[RB TexLa]

3. Would be a very stupid thing for him to do.

[alittlelark]

10. He is a very stupid man.

[Hepburn]

12. Stupid thing for him to do, but....

...he should pay for his own legal representation. I see NO reason we should foot the bills for him.

JMHO

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. OMG! What a waste of taxpayer money

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. !

x(

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. We really don't want it any other way.

[quiet.american]

6. The outrages just go on and on with the loyal Bushies. nt

[Tesla]

7. They think they are owed by everyone,

they are taking it all before they go.
Isn't there anyway to make January come sooner?
I don't think we can afford 2 more months of them!

[robinlynne]

8. Which says to me that mukasey needs to resign yesterday!

[Canuckistanian]

9. In a sane world, Mukasey would be resigning

But then, this is Bushworld, isn't it? The press won't report on it and Congress will back down on it.

Leahy and Conyers will get a phone call and everything will be fine again.

Let's see if this lasts a week. I doubt it.

[crickets]

11. Didn't you know?

He's entitled. It's the unemployed, the uninsured, and the poor who should go pound sand when asking for government (taxpayer funded) help. The fact that his request was granted by the very government entity he helped subvert is immaterial, of course.

:eyes: