Justice Department tugged to the right. Under Bush, the department has been tainted by politics...

[babylonsister]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-usattys25mar25,1,7752000.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Justice Department tugged to the right
Under Bush, the department has been tainted by politics, many say.
By Tom Hamburger, Times Staff Writer
March 25, 2007

WASHINGTON — Not long after President Bush was first sworn in, White House political guru Karl Rove and his lieutenants met with officials of nearly every Cabinet agency to brief top officials on the latest polling data and issues that could influence voters and key constituencies.

But the departments of Justice, Defense and State were exempt. Given their missions — to administer federal laws, protect national security and conduct foreign policy — it was considered inappropriate to make such partisan presentations to them.

Nonetheless, suspicions that the White House's partisan political priorities may have made their way into Justice Department decision-making have grown in recent weeks.

Not only have two of eight recently fired U.S. attorneys complained that in specific cases they felt pressure to make decisions that would advance Republican political interests, but last week several former career officials in the Justice Department said they had felt similar pressures on voting rights cases.

snip//

But injecting partisan considerations into individual cases is another matter.

more...

[Kagemusha]

1. I would hope "many say" is better sourced than "some say".

as they say.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Who says?

[L. Coyote]

2. This link works, PLUS that's "CRIMINAL" JUSTICE!!

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-usattys25mar25,0,1545617.story?coll=la-home-headlines

The first try was a registered guests only page.

Here is the MEAT of the story:

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"Some Civil Rights Division veterans — mostly Democrats — have been expressing concern for months. But last week more officials spoke out about what they described as a pattern of partisan decision-making on individual cases.

"They said their superiors, who were political appointees, repeatedly bottled up cases that might harm the electoral position of Republicans while encouraging the staff to pursue matters that might damage Democrats' prospects. ..."

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Now that's "CRIMINAL" JUSTICE!!