http://department.web2announcer.com/ Web 2.0 announcer top stories for Department en Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:52:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2046405 unknown@Netscape.com Another former Justice Department lawyer went before Congress on Wednesday with few answers for his Democratic interrogators and a spotty memory. Time and again during his confirmation hearing, Hans von Spakovsky cited either the attorney-client privilege or a cloudy memory for his purported role in restricting minorities' voting rights. Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:52:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2046405DepartmentofjusticehansVonSpakovskycivilrightsVotingbushadministrationPoliticscongressNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2045272 unknown@Netscape.com In recent years, the Bush administration has recast the federal government's role in civil rights by aggressively pursuing religion-oriented cases while significantly diminishing its involvement in the traditional area of race. Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:47:05 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2045272bushadministrationjusticeDepartmentcivilrightsPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2043555 unknown@Netscape.com Two congressional committees are issuing subpoenas for testimony from former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor on their roles in the firings of eight federal prosecutors, according to two officials familiar with the investigation. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:37:24 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2043555U.S.attorneysSubpeonasbushadministrationPoliticsjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2043605 unknown@Netscape.com A voter fraud case brought by the interim U.S. attorney in Kansas City, Mo., just five days before last year's pivotal congressional elections was rejected by a Missouri prosecutor as being too weak and as inappropriate to pursue so close to the elections. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:59:35 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2043605U.S.attorneysvoterfraudPoliticsjusticeDepartmentbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2044466 unknown@Netscape.com The White House's former political director was furious at Justice Department officials for disclosing to Congress that the administration had forced out the U.S. attorney in Little Rock, Ark., to make way for a protege of Karl Rove, President Bush's political adviser, according to documents released late Tuesday. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:56:19 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2044466KarlRovePoliticsU.S.attorneysjusticeDepartmentbushadministrationJuNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2043558 unknown@Netscape.com In a letter to DOT Secretary Peters, Chairman Waxman asks for documents and an interview relating to apparent efforts by the Department to lobby Members of Congress to oppose efforts by California and other states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:25:26 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2043558HenryWaxmanLobbyingLobbyistsmarypetersDepartmentofTransporationDOTNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2031413 unknown@Netscape.com Vice President Cheney told Justice Department officials that he disagreed with their objections to a secret surveillance program during a high-level White House meeting in March 2004, a former senior Justice official told senators yesterday. Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:23:39 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2031413DickcheneyWiretapsPoliticsjusticeDepartmentbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2018038 unknown@Netscape.com For more than 15 years, Tom Heffelfinger was the embodiment of a tough Republican prosecutor. So it came as a surprise, and something of a mystery, when he turned up on a list of U.S. attorneys who had been targeted for firing. Part of the reason, government documents suggest, is that he tried to protect voting rights for Native Americans. Thu, 31 May 2007 07:36:30 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2018038U.S.attorneysTomHeffelfingerminnesotajusticeDepartmentbushadministrationAlbertoGonzalesscandalPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2018305 unknown@Netscape.com Wednesday the Department of Justice informed the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that it was expanding an internal investigation into the bungled firings of eight U.S. attorneys. Thu, 31 May 2007 01:19:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2018305usattorneysGonzalesattorneyFiringsjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2010175 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department has broadened an internal investigation into whether aides to Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales improperly took into account political considerations in hiring employees, officials familiar with the probe said Thursday. Sat, 26 May 2007 13:21:24 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2010175justiceDepartmentAlbertoGonzalesattorneygeneralbushadministrationPoliticsPartisonscandalinvestigationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2010135 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department considered political affiliation in screening applicants for immigration court judgeships for several years until hiring was frozen in December after objections from department lawyers, current and former officials said yesterday. Sat, 26 May 2007 12:44:29 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2010135justiceDepartmentpartisanPoliticsmonicaGoodlingbushadministrationAlbertoGonzalesscandalNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2005888 unknown@Netscape.com A former aide to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told Congress on Wednesday she "crossed the line" by letting politics influence the Justice Department's hiring process. Thu, 24 May 2007 03:18:11 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2005888bushadministrationAlbertoGonzalesPoliticsjusticeDepartmentmonicaGoodlingU.S.attorneysscandalNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2006524 unknown@Netscape.com Monica Goodling capped her testimony today by recalling her last conversation with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and saying she felt uncomfortable when Gonzales began recalling for her his understanding of the process that led to the firings of nine U.S. attorneys last year. Thu, 24 May 2007 02:53:56 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2006524monicaGoodlingAlbertoGonzalesjusticeDepartmentU.S.attorneysscandalPoliticsbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2005611 unknown@Netscape.com I just couldn't resist the headline. But this Monica does not wear a blue dress, but she may help to bring down her boss. "I didn't mean to break the law," seemed to be the line of the day for Monica Goodling as it was repeated often in her testimony to congress today. Thu, 24 May 2007 01:00:29 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2005611justiceDepartmentcongresstestimonyscandalRNCcronysNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1976101 unknown@Netscape.com A civil liberties group representing 16 attorneys of detainees at Guantanamo Bay on Thursday sued the National Security Agency and the Justice Department, claiming that the government illegally spied on the lawyers with warrantless wiretaps and has refused to turn over records of the snooping. Mon, 21 May 2007 01:23:32 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1976101guantanamoattorneysnsajusticeDepartmentWarrentlessWiretapsbushadministrationspyingprivacyNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1968573 unknown@Netscape.com As attorney general, John D. Ashcroft was the public face of an administration pushing the boundaries of the Constitution to hunt down terrorists, but behind the scenes, according to former aides and White House officials, he at times resisted what he saw as radical overreaching. Sun, 20 May 2007 09:33:59 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1968573johnAshcroftjusticeDepartmentbushadministrationwhitehousePoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1957510 unknown@Netscape.com Even as he came under renewed political pressure this week, Alberto Gonzales faced sharp criticism from many of his own US attorneys at a private meeting in San Antonio. Over a dozen US attorneys spoke during the morning session, most of them expressing concern about the scandal's impact on their own offices and the overall image of the department. Sat, 19 May 2007 08:51:22 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1957510AlbertoGonzalesjusticeDepartmentusattorneysbushcongressNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1961192 unknown@Netscape.com A U.S. attorney in Florida whose name appeared on a Justice Department firing list received commendations from the Justice Department and White House even as he was being targeted for removal. Gregory Miller said Friday that the awards and praise he'd received showed that his job performance couldn't have caused him to be targeted for dismissal. Sat, 19 May 2007 07:43:00 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1961192GregoryMillerU.S.attorneysjusticeDepartmentAlbertoGonzalesbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1956878 unknown@Netscape.com It doesn't much matter whether President Bush was the one who phoned Attorney General Ashcroft's hospital room in 2004. It matters however, whether the president was willing to have his aides try to strong-arm him into overruling the DOJ's legal views. It matters whether the president, once that failed, was willing to proceed with a program. Sat, 19 May 2007 05:26:41 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1956878bushwhitehouseadministrationjusticeDepartmentjohnAshcroftnsaFBIspyingprivacyNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1925234 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department considered dismissing many more U.S. attorneys than officials have previously acknowledged, with at least 26 prosecutors suggested for termination between February 2005 and December 2006, according to sources familiar with documents withheld from the public. Thu, 17 May 2007 09:06:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1925234U.S.attorneysjusticeDepartmentbushadministrationAlbertoGonzalesPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1913136 unknown@Netscape.com President Bush's Justice Department has made voter fraud such a priority that the president and adviser Karl Rove made sure to mention it to state officials during a campaign swing through Las Vegas just months before the contested 2004 election. The only problem: Their U.S. attorney, Daniel Bogden, didn't have many voter fraud cases to pursue. Wed, 16 May 2007 10:55:38 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1913136KarlRovebushadministrationU.S.attorneysdanielbogdennevadaPoliticsjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1911591 unknown@Netscape.com Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday he relied heavily on his deputy to oversee the firings of U.S. attorneys, appearing to distance himself from his departing second-in-command. Wed, 16 May 2007 01:13:58 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1911591AlbertoGonzalespaulMcNultyjusticeDepartmentU.S.attorneysbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1893570 unknown@Netscape.com To cut back on US taxpayer generated payroll being sunk into Defense Department employee time-wasting surfing sites like MySpace and YouTube, the Pentagon has banned 13 sites from being reached from its network, all but citing such 'recreational traffic' as a National security threat. Mon, 14 May 2007 23:07:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1893570defenseDepartmentofInternetwebsebsurfingNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1882903 unknown@Netscape.com Nearly half the U.S. attorneys slated for removal by the administration last year were targets of Republican complaints that they were lax on voter fraud, including efforts by presidential adviser Karl Rove to encourage more prosecutions of election- law violations, according to new documents and interviews. Mon, 14 May 2007 11:05:27 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1882903KarlRoveU.S.attorneysvoterfraudPoliticsjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1827258 unknown@Netscape.com The Bush administration has withheld a series of e-mails from Congress showing that senior White House and Justice Department officials worked together to conceal the role of Karl Rove in installing Timothy Griffin, a protÃ;©gÃ;© of Rove's, as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Thu, 10 May 2007 20:29:19 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1827258KarlRovejusticeDepartmentU.S.attorneysbushadministrationPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1824088 unknown@Netscape.com The former U.S. attorney in Kansas City, Mo., Todd P. Graves, said yesterday that he was asked to step down from his job by a senior Justice Department official in January 2006, months before eight other federal prosecutors would be fired by the Bush administration. Thu, 10 May 2007 10:58:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1824088U.S.attorneysmissourijusticeDepartmentToddP.GravesbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1808276 unknown@Netscape.com If the White House did nothing improper in the controversial firing of eight U.S. Attorneys last year, why would top officials in the Justice Department, perhaps including Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, have tried to conceal its role in the dismissals? Wed, 09 May 2007 10:49:31 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1808276U.S.attorneysjusticeDepartmentwhitehouseAlbertoGonzalesbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1807658 unknown@Netscape.com Comparing the breaking 'scandal' involving US Justice Department hiring to actions made by the "Soviet Politburo," MSNBC host Keith Olberman said political considerations were behind the hiring of Justice Department employees at every level, "right down to the interns." Tue, 08 May 2007 21:24:59 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1807658keithOlbermanjusticeDepartmentbradleySchlozmanPoliticsbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1784876 unknown@Netscape.com ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The top officer of an oil field services company pleaded guilty Monday to bribing Alaska lawmakers. Bill J. Allen, chief executive officer of the Anchorage-based VECO Corp., entered his plea in U.S. District Court to several counts including conspiracy and bribery, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Mon, 07 May 2007 22:18:13 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1784876alaskabillAllenVECOjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1772989 unknown@Netscape.com In March 2006, Todd Graves was replaced by a new US attorney, one who had no prosecutorial experience and bypassed Senate confirmation. Bradley Schlozman moved aggressively where Graves had not, announcing felony indictments of four workers for a liberal activist group on voter registration fraud charges less than a week before the 2006 election. Sun, 06 May 2007 19:48:41 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1772989bradleySchlozmanToddGravesU.S.attorneysbushadministrationjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1753234 unknown@Netscape.com The House Judiciary Committee will summon Attorney General Alberto Gonzales next week to answer fresh charges stemming from the failure of the Justice Department's civil rights division to hire more minorities. Sat, 05 May 2007 15:56:59 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1753234AlbertoGonzalesbushattorneygeneraljusticeDepartmentdiversityNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1743838 unknown@Netscape.com The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms. Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general the discretion to block gun sales, licenses or permits to terror suspects. Sat, 05 May 2007 00:14:59 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1743838NRAterrorsuspectsjusticeDepartmentgunbuyingNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1739250 unknown@Netscape.com Two months ago, he helped coach Justice Department officials on how to testify about the U.S. attorneys' firings. Was that a harmless part of his job, or an inappropriate attempt to mislead Congress? Fri, 04 May 2007 13:00:02 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1739250KarlRovejusticeDepartmentU.S.attorneysPoliticsbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1721450 unknown@Netscape.com A top Justice Department official tried to win the silence of fired Seattle U.S. Attorney John McKay during a "sinister" phone call in January, McKay said in response to written questions from the House Judiciary Committee. Thu, 03 May 2007 11:51:10 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1721450johnmckayjusticeDepartmentbushadministrationseattleU.S.attorneysNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1703339 unknown@Netscape.com Johnnie Frazier, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is under investigation by a congressional committee for allegations he engaged in "widespread fraud, waste, and abuse" the same misbehavior he is supposed to ferret out. Wed, 02 May 2007 07:10:00 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1703339scandalcorruptionDepartmentofcommerceJohnnieFrazierNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1667286 unknown@Netscape.com The Interior Department has put the final touches on a five-year plan to expand oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore from Alaska and Virginia. Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:30:45 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1667286drillingoilgasoffshoreinteriorDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1651735 unknown@Netscape.com The White House told a Republican member of Congress last summer about its plans to fire a U.S. attorney in Arkansas and replace him with a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove, but it did not tell Democratic lawmakers, according to a new Justice Department e-mail released yesterday. Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:23:11 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1651735attorneyFiringsjusticeDepartmentemailsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1651137 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department is removing political appointees from the hiring process for rookie lawyers and summer interns, amid allegations that the Bush administration had rigged the programs in favor of candidates with connections to conservative or Republican groups, according to documents and officials. Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:02:40 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1651137justiceDepartmentPoliticsbushadministrationInternsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1643071 unknown@Netscape.com A State Department report on terrorism due out next week will show a more than 25% increase in terror attacks worldwide in 2006 to over 14,000 - almost all of it due to incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Friday. Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:13:39 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1643071terrorismstateDepartmentreportNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1603566 unknown@Netscape.com As midterm elections approached last November, federal investigators in Arizona faced unexpected obstacles in getting needed Justice Department approvals to advance a corruption investigation of Republican Rep. Rick Renzi, people close to the case said. The delays, postponed key approvals in the case until after the election.. Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:22:31 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1603566rickRenziAlbertoGonzalesjusticeDepartmentPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1524406 unknown@Netscape.com In a second blow to House Republicans this week, the FBI raided a business tied to the family of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing investigation into the three-term lawmaker. As a result of the raid, Renzi is stepping down from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee. Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:03:30 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1524406rickRenziFBIjusticeDepartmentinvestigationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1515406 unknown@Netscape.com When Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales's top aide contemplated the mass dismissal of chief federal prosecutors two years ago, he advocated keeping the "loyal Bushies." Two years later, the question confronting President Bush is whether to keep Gonzales the very model of a loyal Bushie. Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:10:54 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1515406usattorneysjusticeDepartmentattorneyFiringsgeneralNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1509371 unknown@Netscape.com ver the past six years, the Bush administration has aggressively reshaped the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Many career analysts and attorneys have either been transferred or driven out; their replacements are long on conservative credentials and short on civil rights experience. Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:50:00 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1509371justiceDepartmentcivilrightsbushadministrationPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1468714 unknown@Netscape.com Michael A. Battle, the former Justice Department official who carried out the firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year told Congress that several of the prosecutors had no performance problems and that a memo on the firings was distributed at a Nov. 27 meeting attended by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, a Democratic senator said yesterday. Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:32:17 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1468714justiceDepartmentU.S.attorneysGonzalescontradictiontestimonyNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1461034 unknown@Netscape.com Former U.S. Attorney Iglesias was fired after Sen. Pete Domenici, who had been unhappy with Iglesias for some time, made a personal appeal to the White House. Domenici had complained about Iglesias before, at one point going to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before taking his request to the president as a last resort. Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:32:39 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1461034usattorneysIglesiasDomeniciAlbertoGonzalesjusticeDepartmentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1443131 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department weighed political activism and membership in a conservative law group in evaluating the nation's federal prosecutors, documents released in the probe of fired U.S. attorney show. Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:30:08 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1443131justiceDepartmentcongressionalinvestigationU.S.attorneysGonzalesPoliticsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1440366 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department identified five Bush administration insiders as replacement U.S. attorneys almost a year before most of the prosecutors were fired, contrary to repeated claims that no such list had ever been drawn up, according to documents released today. Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:45:38 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1440366usattorneysjusticeDepartmentattorneyFiringsgeneralNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1383003 unknown@Netscape.com A half-dozen sitting U.S. attorneys also serve as aides to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales or are assigned other Washington postings, performing tasks that take them away from regular duties in their districts for months or even years at a time, according to officials and department records. Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:13:42 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1383003U.S.attorneysAlbertoGonzalesjusticeDepartmentPoliticsbushadministrationNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1328575 unknown@Netscape.com The top aide to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales abruptly quit on Friday, almost two weeks after telling Congress she would not testify about her role in the firings of federal prosecutors. Sat, 07 Apr 2007 00:43:13 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1328575GonzalesjusticeDepartmentusattorneyFiringsmonicaGoodlingNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1330371 unknown@Netscape.com The Justice Department under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has come in for criticism by the Senate Judiciary Committee in the past two days for failing to turn over documents related to the firing of 8 US Attorneys and for failing to answer questions submitted after a Jan. 18 hearing. Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:17:26 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1330371GonzalesjusticeDepartmentattorneygeneralNews