Marcy Wheeler: Fox, Henhouse, Bush's DOJ.

[Hissyspit]

Marcy sure is detail-oriented. :)

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/04/fox_henhouse_bu.html

April 27, 2007
Fox, Henhouse, Bush's DOJ
by emptywheel

Well, we might have a new explanation for the flurry of news recently on the Abramoff investigation. Turns out, the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of DOJ (reporting to Alice Fisher, presumably) is good buddies with Kevin Ring, who is about to flip Congress Doolittle an indictment. And just before Kevin Ring got around to flipping, said Deputy Chief stepped down.

A senior Justice Department official has resigned after coming under scrutiny in the Department’s expanding investigation of convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a Justice Department official with knowledge of the case.

Making the situation more awkward for the embattled Department, the official, Robert E. Coughlin II, was deputy chief of staff for the criminal division, which is overseeing the Department’s probe of Abramoff. He stepped down effective April 6 as investigators in Coughlin’s own division ratcheted up their investigation of lobbyist Kevin Ring, Coughlin’s long-time friend and a key associate of Abramoff.

So for those of you following the chronology, Robert Coughlin resigned April 6. One week later, on April 13, Kevin Ring resigned from his firm. The same day, the FBI raided Doolittle's house. I'd say that's might interesting timing. And poor DOJ, all their best politicos are rather occupied right now, trying to stay out of jail themselves. As I said over at FDL, perhaps this means someday we'll see the backside of Alice Fisher.

[Roland99]

1. It would be easier to make a list of people in the Bushco admin NOT involved in criminal activity!

:eyes: