January 15, 2007, 12:14 PM Strange days? Less than a week after news broke that the Bush administration has forced the resignation of San Diego U.S. attorney Carole Lam, we learn that it has done the same to Daniel Bogden, U.S. attorney for Nevada.
According to today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, no one seems to know why he's been asked to leave before his term expires in 2008. As in Lam's ouster, there appear to be no charges of wrongdoing against Bogden.
An anonymous source inside Bogden's office told the Review-Journal that his management style had led to "low morale." However, the source said that was likely "partly Bogden's fault and partly the result of inadequate staffing and funding from the Justice Department."
Nevada's GOP senator, John Ensign, had recommended Bodgen for the post, and spoke to the paper for the record. "His priorities, to prevent terrorism and prosecute violent and drug crimes, have made our communities and families safer," he said.
The paper did not include a quote on the topic from Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who also represents Nevada. However, it noted that a spokesperson for Reid said the lawmaker was in favor of legislation to prevent U.S. attorneys from being replaced without Senate approval.
US Attorneys being replaced without Senate approval
(January 16, 2007 -- 11:53 AM EDT)
You've probably already seen some of the news about the Bush White House engaging in a seemingly unprecedented spree of firings of US Attorneys across the coutry. Conveniently, they're being replaced without senate approval under a provision of the Patriot Act. We're digging into now and we're finding a bunch. More soon.