If U.S. Atty for Minn. hadn't quit, was he on the way to being purged?

[MnFats]

Nick Coleman's column raises some interesting questions..


http://www.startribune.com/357/story/1092041.html

"Among the documents released by the Department of Justice during the furor over "Purge-gate" was a Jan. 9, 2006, e-mail from Gonzales' chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, to White House Counsel Harriet Miers. The e-mail includes a "target list" of seven attorneys who should be considered "for removal and replacement."

Four of the targeted attorneys were among the eight eventually fired: Margaret Chiara of Michigan, Harry Cummins III of Arkansas, and Kevin Ryan and Carol Lam, both of California. But three of the seven names on the list have been "redacted" -- whited out -- because they had resigned before the list was finalized.

Sampson's memo proposed working with "targeted U.S. Attorneys to encourage them to leave government service voluntarily; this would allow (them) to make arrangements for work in the private sector and 'save face' regarding the reason for leaving office, both in the Department of Justice and in their local legal communities."

Heffelfinger announced his resignation on Feb. 14 last year, after Sampson's list of targeted attorneys was prepared, and before it was redacted."

[hang a left]

1. Nice catch

I am sure both the committees are aware. I am even certain they know more than we do by a long shot. Layers of the onion and all...