U.S. Attorney accused of setting up quotas to increase federal funding.
U.S. Attorney accused of setting up quotas to increase federal funding.
U.S. Attorney for the central district of California in Los Angeles Thomas P. O’Brien “is facing sharp criticism from prosecutors within his office who say he is pressuring them to file relatively insignificant criminal cases to drive up statistics that make the office eligible for increased federal funding.” The unnamed prosecutors say the practice — which O’Brien has denied — “amounts to a quota system” and detracts them from working on more significant cases:
The disgruntled prosecutors in Los Angeles say they are now spending an exorbitant amount of time working on less significant cases — mail theft, smaller drug offenses and illegal immigration — to reach quotas. They cited the recent disbanding of the office’s public integrity and environmental crimes section, a unit with a history of working on complex police corruption and political corruption cases, as evidence of a shift toward high-volume, low-quality prosecutions.
The corruption unit, which O’Brien disbanded last month, was handling the ongoing investigation into Rep. Jerry Lewis’s (R-CA) ties to a lobbying firm and earmarks its clients have received. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey for a detailed explanation as to why the unit was disbanded.
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Keeps ‘em busy so they don’t have time to prosecute the big-ticket crimes that are the exclusive providence of republican donors!
April 18th, 2008 at 5:05 pmAsk Carol Lam why the corruption unit was disbanded.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pmYou can take the Turdblossom out of the White House, but you can’t remove the taint.
Gonzales left stinky residue. Going to hell in a handbasket. Damn.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:12 pmI say, send (buy) Georgie to law school after his presidential stuff and appoint him to replace O’Brien. He’s the right man for the job.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pmNo surprises there. We’re seen selective prosecution at work and Americans don’t mind. Now Siegelman is just one case that was fixed. I noticed no one was interesting in how the Palfrey case was a set up even going beyond what people would think. A Judge in that case allowed the Prosecution to break the law openly. We’ll see more cases that Government Attorneys just out right broke the law. Don’t look for the AG Musk Rat to do anything about it nor the Law Makers. In the pass 7 years the criminals have been spread out all over the Government, Justice System, Courts and businesses. We now hear Law Makers give lip service while along their on the take. Judges are using their position to corrupt the Justice System. And nobody listens to the Supreme Court Justices as 4 are working for the Republican Party and don’t mind showing it. I just hope tap tap Justice Alito can stop sending out thank you notes to Republicans for giving him his job. Chief Justice Roberts is keeping his wife and secret lady safe.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:41 pmWelcome to WalMart jurisprudence where quantity outshines quality.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pmActually, I like Walmart’s mini-donuts.
But there’s nothing to like about this administration.
It’s like a backed up septic tank that won’t get fixed for four days in the middle of the summer. You can pour sand and gravel over the “puddles”, but that stank isn’t going anywhere.
And the stank of Bush and the Legion of Doom has settled on our tongues and only the loyalest fools don’t notice since they didn’t have taste in their mouths to begin with.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:23 pmBut then they won’t be able to bother repugnant contributors andcash consolidators.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:43 pmA revolt in JUSTICE?
That is the right area for the revolution.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:11 pmIs Diane going to finally make a name for herself? But Muskasey will never consult with a women. They are the opposite…..
April 18th, 2008 at 8:16 pmGet some balls mam!
#6 RUCerious Says:
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Welcome to WalMart jurisprudence where quantity outshines quality.
That is so true…LOL Thank you!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:18 pmAccording to several sources, O’Brien spoke passionately at a supervisors’ meeting in March 2007 about the need for increased numbers and warned of repercussions for prosecutors who failed to produce. Since then, at least one prosecutor has been transferred against his will and others have received lower performance ratings for failing to meet their numbers, the sources said.
So much for not setting up Quotas, now we are calling them Performance Goals. Good Cover. Very Clever..
April 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pmThe true face of what Republicans are in the 21st century: a support system for the oligarchy.
April 19th, 2008 at 9:42 amPerformance goals…Clean Air Act….Patriot Act….Protect America Act….Faith-based Initiatives….
April 19th, 2008 at 10:51 amIt’s all in the marketing….Make sound pretty and the sheeple will fall for it.
Oh yea…..I forgot to mention those infamous “Free Speech Zones” :(
April 19th, 2008 at 10:52 am