Think Progress

Rove’s deputy involved in attorney purge.

Emails released today show that Karl Rove’s deputy Scott Jennings was involved in the effort to purge Arkansas U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins in favor of Rove “protege” Tim Griffin, despite claims from the Justice Department to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) last month that Rove had “no role” in Griffin’s appointment.

“Tim said he got a call from Bud offering this idea,” Jennings wrote to Alberto Gonzales’ chief of staff Kyle Sampson in late August, “that Tim come on board as a special [assistant U.S. attorney] while Bud finalizes his private sector plans. That would alleviate pressure/implication that Tim forced Bud out. Any thoughts on that?”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Sampson responded.

The Justice Department made Griffin a special assistant USA in Arkansas the next month. Finally, in December, Griffin was made the U.S. attorney.



68 Responses to “Rove’s deputy involved in attorney purge.”

  1. merciful mercury says:

    huh, imagine that….


  2. JesusChrist_GodofWAR says:

    … Turdblossom. Calling Turdblossom to the witness stand…


  3. CONservative says:

    Can we get these criminals under oath claiming they had no role so we can throw them in the slammer where they belong or SOMETHING??


  4. Angry One says:

    For more on the White House connection and all the latest news, hearings, legal filings and other essential documents on the Bush DOJ prosecutor firings, see:
    “The U.S. Attorney Scandal Documents.”


  5. gummitch says:

    Erm. That suggests that “Bud” was in on the whole deal, which doesn’t speak well for his ethics. Or maybe he just had to play nice so his future with the Repubs wasn’t completely scuppered.


  6. Zooey says:

    Rove: That wasn’t me. I had nothing to do with it. My deputy acted on his own.

    **gag**

    Give me a list, I’ll do the subpoenas myself.
    I know a Judge who’ll sign ‘em, and a dude who’ll serve ‘em.


  7. AboveTheClouds says:

    The crazy thing about all these US Attorneys purged are Bush appointments, aren’t they? I know Bud Cummins was (2001).


  8. Jake says:

    Rove had no more role than Carter did in firing US Attorney David Marston, who was investigating allegations of kickbacks at the Hahneman Hospital in Philadelphia against Democratic Representatives Joshua Eilberg and Daniel Flood.

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912155,00.html?promoid=googlep


  9. lestatdelc says:

    TP should be digging into the gwb43.com servers that Scott Jennings email address and email is goign through. This is an RNC registered domain, NOT .gov white house domains which are captured as government documents. We have Scott Jennings emailing outside of presidential record capturing which is legally a BIG no-no after Nixon.


  10. John says:

    Gotta get a photo of Jennings up. He is Rove’s lost twin, another poof.


  11. AboveTheClouds says:

    Jake: You’re defending the “honor” of a shit like Rove with a reference to a 1978 incident? How many more of these scandals can this White House stand? The US Atty mess is bigger than just Gonzales and he will be gone sooner than later. These idiots are destryoing the Republican Party and you reference a 1978 article to defend them? What a sad song.


  12. Marie says:

    One lie after another exposed.
    One scandal after another exposed.
    How many of these can the administration stand before it implodes?
    How many can Fox-TV manage to propagandize for them?
    How many spokesmen can they parade before the cameras to lie and admit “mistakes” with the promise to “improve?”
    Nothing improves – we simply learn more of their lies that had been covered.
    They all work for us guys — we should fire them all!!


  13. dlet says:

    SO we have Rove’s Deputy and Gonzo’s Deputy involved. Does anyone here think that their bosses knew anything about this?

    To paraphrase Shumer. If they knew they are guilty. If they didn’t know they are negligent. Neither option is acceptable and they should resign.


  14. dlet says:

    #8
    Jake,
    As was said before. If Carter did it it was wrong. That does not excuse anyone from doing it now. Wrong then…wrong now.

    Nixon ordered the firing of US attorney Cox and after firing two Attorney Generals Cox was fired. Funny thing is Cox was investigating Nixon.


  15. firehead says:

    Who cares? This is a total non-issue. The Constituion does not apply to the president or his administration in a time of war.

    Would you prefer the Muslim flag flying in DC and Arabic being spoken in New York?


  16. dlet says:

    Would you prefer the Muslim flag flying in DC and Arabic being spoken in New York?

    Comment by firehead

    I think there’s a few Muslim flags flying in DC at a few embassiess. But I’ll have a buddy check on that. Also on the corner of Broadway and Reade there is a guy that sells falafels and speaks Arabic. I think he’s the only one but I’ll check on that one too. I’ll report back to you tommorrow. Go Team Paranoid!!


  17. Zooey says:

    The Constituion does not apply to the president or his administration in a time of war.
    Comment by firehead

    Gotta link?


  18. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Well, at least the doltish firehead has stopped referring to it as the “Cresant” flag.

    Perhaps trolls do have rudimentary learning abilities. ^_^


  19. Jay Randal says:

    Looks like a smoking gun, so time for Congress to remove Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales too.


  20. angryvietnamvet says:

    I think the muslim crescent doesnt have to fly over the White HOuse nor Arabic spoken in the streets of D.C. for me to conclude that THEY have won. WE have surrendered our country to a group of fascist authoritarian theocrats who have no respect for the Constitution or the Republic. The BushChaney cabal have been worse than any damage caused by the crazies who blew up a couple of buildings in N.Y. in 2001


  21. Zooey says:

    The BushChaney cabal have been worse than any damage caused by the crazies who blew up a couple of buildings in N.Y. in 2001
    Comment by angryvietnamvet

    Well said, AVVV.


  22. Karl Rove says:

    THAT’S A GODDAMNED, F*ING LIE!


  23. mandolin says:

    Why should Rove be fired over this? Can someone tell me the crime that was commited here? Does the President not have the power to appoint and remove federal prosecuters for whatever reason?


  24. Briseadh na Faire says:


    Who cares? This is a total non-issue. The Constituion does not apply to the president or his administration in a time of war.

    Comment by firehead — March 13, 2007 @ 8:32 pm

    Oh. Right. All any President has to do is start a war and he can be dictator for life. I’m surprised it took someone 200 years to figure that out.


  25. angryvietnamvet says:

    Firehead: “the constitution doesn’t apply to the president in a time of war”….huh?? Can you please point out the Article in the Constitution that cancels it “in a time of war” . That you believe such idiocy is regrettable. That the President and Vice President seem to share your view and act accordingly, is a crime and basis for their removal from office. ….Not even during the last Constitutional, declared war (WWII) did Franklin D. Roosevelt claim such extraconstitutional power (although sending Japanese Americans to concentration camps was grossly illegal and unforgivable).

    Go put on your brownshirt and goose step around your basement now.


  26. Briseadh na Faire says:


    Why should Rove be fired over this? Can someone tell me the crime that was commited here? Does the President not have the power to appoint and remove federal prosecuters for whatever reason?

    Comment by mandolin — March 13, 2007 @ 9:01 pm

    Not if it’s an illegal reason. And, from the looks of it, these firings may constitute obstruction of justice. How about it, mandolin, are you up for a full investigation?


  27. Jay Randal says:

    Yes mandolin we know you think it is OK for Bush to remove prosecuters for picking their noses in public, but actually presidents are supposed to have valid reasons to do this and not for politics only.


  28. Briseadh na Faire says:

    Gotta link?

    Comment by Zooey — March 13, 2007 @ 8:37 pm

    It would be to Mein Kampf.


  29. mandolin says:

    Where are the Think Regress Rejects trying to go with this? Clinton fired all federal prosecuters when he took office. Did Clinton do this for reasons other thatn political ones? Were they all unqualified? It doesn’t matter if prosecuters are appointed for political reasons because this is politics.
    This is a poor attempt even for Nico and Faiz to try and have Rove fired. Maybe Nico should write an article claimimg that Rove’s Grandfather had connections to the Nazi party. Or has he already done something like that before?


  30. Jay Randal says:

    mandolin there are tons of reasons to remove Karl Rove, from DC, so if this is not of importance then how about for Rove giving dirt to the press on Valerie Plame-Wilson and then lying that he did it?!


  31. wayne says:

    Where are the Think Regress Rejects trying to go with this?
    — mandolin

    Read the link in the story above and then rephrase your questions, dum bass

    You do read, don’t you?


  32. mandolin says:

    First, Firehead should probally stop talking about the Constitution because he apperently knows very little about.

    And, from the looks of it, these firings may constitute obstruction of justice. How about it, mandolin, are you up for a full investigation?

    Comment by Briseadh na Faire — March 13, 2007 @ 9:18 pm

    How would that constitute obstruction of justice? As for the investigation, the last “full investigation” showed that they were investigated for nothing. It did however give the administration a lot of bad press and I would suspect that is most likely the reason you want an investigation.


  33. Zooey says:

    It would be to Mein Kampf.
    Comment by Briseadh na Faire

    Well, I don’t have time to read that.

    Sorry, fireant.


  34. VerbalKint says:

    Why should Rove be fired over this? Can someone tell me the crime that was commited here?
    Comment by mandolin — March 13, 2007 @ 9:01 pm

    Whoa, buddy, not so fast. It was just a few days ago that you were mocking anyone and everyone here who would dare suggest that Karl Rove had the slightest role in attorney-gate. Just because your face is covered in egg doesn’t mean we are going to let you change the subject. You were wrong, wrong, wrong.


  35. . says:

    The inane ‘Clinton did it too’ defense

    The argument is premised on a mistaken understanding of how the process works. When a president takes office, he or she nominates federal prosecutors at the beginning of the first term. Under normal circumstances, these U.S. Attorneys serve until the next president is sworn in.

    In 1993, Clinton replaced H.W. Bush’s prosecutors. In 2001, Bush replaced Clinton’s prosecutors. None of this is remotely unusual. Indeed, it’s how the process is designed.

    The difference with the current scandal is overwhelming. Bush replaced eight specific prosecutors, apparently for purely political reasons. This is entirely unprecedented. For conservatives to argue, as many are now, that Clinton’s routine replacements for H.W. Bush’s USAs is any way similar is the height of intellectual dishonesty. They know better, but hope their audience is too uninformed to know the difference


  36. Zooey says:

    This is a poor attempt even for Nico and Faiz to try and have Rove fired. Maybe Nico should write an article claimimg that Rove’s Grandfather had connections to the Nazi party. Or has he already done something like that before?
    Comment by mandolin

    Wow. I didn’t know Nico & Faiz were so damned powerful.

    Mandolin, I’m sure that if the tables were turned, Rove would defend you as mightily as you defend him. Not.


  37. mandolin says:

    I did read it Wayne. Did you? Where’s the crime?


  38. VerbalKint says:

    Clinton fired all federal prosecuters when he took office.
    Comment by mandolin — March 13, 2007 @ 9:20 pm

    Just how many more freaking times are the dimwitted trolls going to trot out this lame talking point.

    Sheesh.


  39. . says:

    The inane ‘Clinton did it too’ defense

    As the prosecutor purge scandal continues to become more serious and more damaging for the Bush gang, the right has struggled to come up with a coherent defense. They seem to have embraced one, but it’s surprisingly weak.

    http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/10193.html


  40. VerbalKint says:

    It is very difficult to understand how anyone could defend the slimy, thuggish actions of Karl Rove. Not decent people, anyway.


  41. mandolin says:

    Has anyone pointed out a crime yet?


  42. wayne says:

    The Constituion does not apply to the president or his administration in a time of war.
    Comment by firehead

    not only are you a pant-pissing coward, you are also vey stupid.
    No one is above the law. Bush will find that out sooner or later.
    But you will always be stupid.

    Exaltado es un cobarde.


  43. mandolin says:

    Yes mandolin we know you think it is OK for Bush to remove prosecuters for picking their noses in public, but actually presidents are supposed to have valid reasons to do this and not for politics only.

    Comment by Jay Randal — March 13, 2007 @ 9:19 pm

    Okay Jason Randal tell me why Clinton removed all federal prosecuters when he took office. I’m sure they were al “valid” reasons.


  44. VerbalKint says:

    Has anyone pointed out a crime yet?
    Comment by mandolin — March 13, 2007 @ 9:33 pm

    Have you come up with an explanation for why you were so WRONG, dimwit?


  45. wayne says:

    I did read it Wayne. Did you? Where’s the crime?
    Comment by mandolin

    read it again, s…l…o..w…l…y this time.
    have trouble with reading comprehension much?

    I am sick of explaining the same things over and over to you moronic trolls.


  46. VerbalKint says:

    Okay Jason Randal tell me why Clinton removed all federal prosecuters when he took office. I’m sure they were al “valid” reasons.
    Comment by mandolin — March 13, 2007 @ 9:36 pm

    Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic.


  47. Zooey says:

    How many times have I read the information mandolin-the-idiot is asking for on ThinkProgress? Only about 1,000 times.

    Go find it for yourself mandolin — of course you won’t, because you’re not really interested in the answer.


  48. Jay Randal says:

    Everything still gets blamed on Bill Clinton, or Bill did it too, so therefore Bush baby is supposed to be exonerated of all crimes or infractions? When is George W. Bush going to take responsibility for his 6 years in the presidency?


  49. Zooey says:

    When is George W. Bush going to take responsibility for his 6 years in the presidency?
    Comment by Jay Randal

    Don’t hold your breath, cuz you’ll pass out and bump your head.


  50. Jay Randal says:

    Will Dubya Dunce Decider Despot Dictator Dummy take responsibility for his failed criminal presidency 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, or never?


  51. Jay Randal says:

    Bush baby uses Bill Clinton as a cover for everything. For example Bill got caught getting BJs from Monica, so Dubya hires a male hooker Jeff Gannon to give him BJs, so the press ignores the Gannon sexcapade.



  52. Perry Logan says:

    A fitting end to the Republican Revolution.


  53. Wayne says:

    Go find it for yourself mandolin — zooey

    He may read, but it is comprehension he has trouble with.

    Every talking point he spouted has already been debunked in an earlier thread today. It gets old….


  54. Amanda Lynn Stahmper says:

    mandolin? here?… where?…


  55. Briseadh na Faire says:

    Has anyone pointed out a crime yet?

    Comment by mandolin — March 13, 2007 @ 9:33 pm

    I did. You ignored it. If these firings were intended to derail investigations, then there is a serious question of obstruction of justice. That’s what got Nixon in trouble, and one of the charges of which Scooter Libby was convicted.


  56. Zooey says:

    #52 – That’s a great picture. :D


  57. R says:

    I’ve had house pets with more sense than some of these Bush supporters. I think they say they don’t understand just to drive the rest of us crazy. Personally, I wouldn’t waste my time. They’re not worth it any more than the stupid administration they are so quick to defend. It’s like the turds are guarding the outhouse.


  58. Shane says:

    I’ve never been to Washington but if Rove has to testify it will be worth a celebratory trip.


  59. Wayne says:

    I did. You ignored it. If these firings were intended to derail investigations, then there is a serious question of obstruction of justice. That’s what got Nixon in trouble, and one of the charges of which Scooter Libby was convicted.
    Comment by Briseadh na Faire

    Add attempting to interfere with a Grand Jury, Senators implicated as well and who knows what else will pop up.
    They just started investigating this.

    Investigations and oversight is making the White House ( of Cards ) begin to crumble. I am glad to see it.


  60. Shane says:

    If one more troll says Clinton did it first I’m going to go POSTAL!

    Firehead and mandolin also use the logic that they’re daddy’s f##ked the sheep so its okay for me to do it too. I don’t know how they caught mad cow though.


  61. Wayne says:

    I don’t know how they caught mad cow though.
    Comment by Shane

    LOL


  62. VerbalKint says:

    I think mandolin has skedaddled.


  63. Zooey says:

    I think mandolin has skedaddled.
    Comment by VerbalKint

    Someone turned on the light….


  64. Raymond Funamoto says:

    Karl Miss Piggy Rove Danced a LIVELY JIG
    So very SPRY for a LOATHESOME FAT PIG!!!!!
    But his machinations so INCREDIBLY VILE
    As SIN upon SIN did upon him PILE
    And he ended up IN HIS OWN GRAVE THAT HE DID DIG!!!!!


  65. Birmingham Blues » Blog Archive » Gonzales Watch says:

    [...] formerly served as one of his opposition researchers, to replace the US Attorney in Arkansas, but that assurance turns out to be false, along with just about every word Gonzales has uttered about this mess.  Bush will do everything [...]


  66. h keller says:

    Without independent US Attorneys this country is in for some bad years. Whatever party or persuassion you should care that this is fixed.


  67. M:3b69e09b48917bfb26a20f8de351f4d8 says:

    What about backups? If, like a normal operation, they kept daily/weekly/monthly backups of their mail servers, the mails should exist on tape/DVD, unless Rove and company routinely deleted all mails before the end of the day.



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