None of the fired U.S. Attorneys should have been let go for performance-based reasons:
SANCHEZ: OK, but in your view and to the best of your knowledge were there valid performance-based reasons to terminate any of these six US Attorneys?
COMEY: Not in my experience with them.
Watch it:
UPDATE: Comey adds that “he had ‘heard rumors‘ that Justice Department White House Liaison Monica Goodling was using political criteria in making personnel decisions among non-political, career staff.” The Justice Department has launched an investigation to Goodling, alleging that she potentially violated federal law.
UPDATE II: Comey disparaged Kyle Sampson’s desire for “loyal Bushies,” saying “that the DoJ had to be ‘seen as the good guys — not as this administration or that administration.’”
UPDATE III: Comey rips Patrick Fitzgerald?
Asked about his reaction to a now-infamous listing of U.S. attorneys in which Fitzgerald was ranked mediocre, Comey replied: “I’ve never thought much of him.”
One beat…two beats…Comey grinned and said, “No, I’m just kidding.”
Acknowledging that Fitzgerald is a close friend, Comey described the Chicago prosecutor as “one of the finest federal prosecutors there is…maybe has ever been.”
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