Claims Bush Administration Used Act To Oust Prosecutors, Replace Them With Allies WASHINGTON Senator Dianne Feinstein is claiming that the White House has taken advantage of the Patriot Act to oust the top prosecutor in coastal Northern California and other federal prosecutors.
The California Democrat complained on the Senate floor that the Bush administration has used a provision of the Patriot Act to remove U-S Attorney Kevin Ryan and other prosecutors and replace them with White House allies.
Feinstein made her assertion at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing while questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales denied Feinstein's claim.
Ryan announced earlier this week that he was resigning as the chief federal prosecutor for the Northern District of California.
During his four-and-a-half years on the job, Ryan was involved in a number of high-profile cases, including the investigation into the use of steroids in sports.