Blatant Hypocrisy and the Democratic Establishment
The ruins of our democracy are just around the bend
Haven't we been down this road already?
Georgia Rep. John Lewis, one of Washington's most prominent Democrats, called the White House earlier this year to try to block the appointment of a federal prosecutor who won convictions against more than a dozen public officials in Atlanta -- including former Mayor Bill Campbell, a longtime friend and ally of Mr. Lewis.
After queries from The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Lewis' contacted White House Counsel Greg Craig late last month to withdraw his objections to the nomination of the prosecutor, Sally Q. Yates, for U.S. Attorney in Atlanta. Two government officials with knowledge of the matter described the calls.
Within days, the White House forwarded the name of Ms. Yates, currently the senior assistant U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, to the Justice Department for a final round of background checks before she is officially nominated as the top prosecutor for the Northern District of Georgia. Ms. Yates -- if nominated by President Barack Obama as expected -- would require approval by the Senate.
Mr. Lewis declined to comment. A top aide to the congressman said Mr. Lewis's initial lack of support for Ms. Yates had nothing to do with her role in prosecuting Mr. Campbell or other public figures. The aides said the recommendations made by Georgia's congressional delegation were based on candidate qualifications.
There is nothing illegal about a member of Congress expressing opposition to a presidential appointment. But the story of Ms. Yates, 49 years old, illustrates that even after three years of controversy over allegations of partisan meddling in the work of U.S. attorneys during the Bush administration, politics remains part of the selection process.
The Justice Department is still trying to repair damage from the scandal that erupted after Bush administration officials ousted nine U.S. attorney appointees in 2006 to make way for new political favorites.
Kudos to the Obama Administration for blocking the efforts of a highly placed and rather influential Congressman to politicize the Justice Department. Any time liberals want to come down their high horse about the rule of law is fine by me.
