# That CRAAAAAAAAZY conspiracy theory: the mass firings of US Attorneys **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 6, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824 "2007-03-06T17:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/401 "2007-05-18T00:43:29Z")
From Salon: > [@](#): > > One more question about James Comey’s extraordinary testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday: If Comey is wrong – if Andy Card and Alberto Gonzales didn’t try to take advantage of a desperately ill and disoriented John Ashcroft to get authorization for a warrantless wiretap program the Justice Department had already rejected; if FBI Director Robert Mueller wasn’t so worried about what Card and Gonzales were doing that he didn’t order his agents to keep them from removing Comey from Ashcroft’s hospital room – then why isn’t anyone denying Comey’s account today? > > As the New York Times reported this morning, spokesmen for Ashcroft, Mueller and the Department of Justice have all declined to comment on Comey’s accusations, and Card didn’t respond to a reporter’s inquiries about them. > > At the White House today, Tony Snow said that Comey had given “his side of what transpired that day.” But if there’s some other “side” of the story, Snow didn’t give any hint as to what it might be. And really, why should he even bother? As Media Matters notes, the mainstream media thinks so little of this story that CBS and ABC didn’t even mention Comey’s testimony during their evening newscasts Tuesday night. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/402 "2007-05-18T21:04:50Z")
The DOJ now says to the Senate: We don’t have the e-mails you subpoenaed, Karl Rove’s lawyer does. Story [here.](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/16/rove.documents/) > [@](#): > > In the subpoena, Leahy had demanded all documents in the possession of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who investigated Rove in connection with the disclosure of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. > > But Assistant Attorney General Richard Hertling, Gonzales’ top link to Congress, told Leahy a search was conducted and turned up nothing. > > “None of those records are responsive to the committee’s subpoena. The electronic media was returned to Mr. Rove’s counsel, Mr. Robert Luskin, in a sealed condition,” Hertling said. WTF??!! How could the DOJ have had this stuff, and let it out of its hands without keeping any copies?! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/403 "2007-05-18T21:06:31Z")
Okay, now they’re fiddling with evidence. Isn’t that a prosecutable crime? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/404 "2007-05-18T21:30:19Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] How could the DOJ have had this stuff, and let it out of its hands without keeping any copies?! [/QUOTE] And somehow they were found, printed, and sealed without anyone reading them? Sure… -Joe ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/405 "2007-05-22T00:34:43Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Okay, now they’re fiddling with evidence. Isn’t that a prosecutable crime? [/QUOTE] No for them it’s a sport. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/406 "2007-05-22T20:02:12Z")
[Goodling is now refusing to turn over documents subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee.](http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Goodling_fails_to_turn_over_documents_0522.html) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/407 "2007-05-22T20:11:29Z")
Any way we can get Jesus to issue the subpoena? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/408 "2007-05-22T20:15:49Z")
Goodling [will be testifying before the committee again tomorrow.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/22/DI2007052200928.html) (Assuming she decides to show up.) And David Iglesias will be up shortly thereafter. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/409 "2007-05-22T20:57:04Z")
According to [Kos,](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5/22/111456/606) it now appears that when Gonzalez appointed Tim Griffin as a USA, he backdated the appointment (from 12/18/06 to 12/15/06). > [@](#): > > So why would Alberto Gonzales backdate the Tim Griffin appointment from a Monday to a Friday? > > Because Alberto Gonzales and Senator Pryor had a conversation on December 15 at which Pryor asked for reasons why Cummins was resigning and indicated he did not support Griffin for USA. It appears that, after that conversation, they quickly made Griffin’s appointment a done deal, only later submitting the paperwork for it. By backdating the appointment, they got Griffin appointed without making it look like they were using the PATRIOT provision specifically to get around the Senate. Which, of course, they were. Would **that** be a crime? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/410 "2007-05-23T18:31:01Z")
Goodling now admits she [“crossed the line”](http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2323178520070523) in asking political questions of Justice Department applicants; but she denies any significant role in the firings. She also says Deputy AG Paul McNulty [misled Congress.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/23/AR2007052300728.html?hpid=topnews) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/411 "2007-05-23T18:51:35Z")
But she didn’t _mean_ to! Doesn’t that count for something? And the merciless badgering by Rep. Bobby Scott (D - Big Meany!) of this sweet naif is just wrong! What, she’s expected to _know_ all this law stuff, or something? And the way the Congressmen snickered at her _Hello, Kitty!_ briefcase, well, it rends my heart, I tell ya. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/412 "2007-05-23T19:13:23Z")
But we have, at last, the brave and honest…and yes, chivalrous!..Rep Feeney (R- Feh!)… > [@](#): > > …You described yourself as a quiet girl. Millions of Americans are proud to have someone like you serving in government. I hope Congress can stop with this circus. Apparently the Congressmen believes Americans have confused her with Reese Witherspoon, in _Legally Blonde_. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/413 "2007-05-23T19:15:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Millions of Americans are proud to have someone like you serving in government. Millions of Americans think cavemen ate dinosaur steaks. What’s his point? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/414 "2007-05-23T19:22:03Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Goodling now admits she [“crossed the line”](http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2323178520070523) [/QUOTE] Now the senate committee needs to find a Liberal judge willing to cancel Ms. Goodling’s immunity. There might be a Republican or two who’d complain about such an act ‘crossing the line’, but in this case, one good turn _surely_ deserves another. Conservative America needs an object lesson in ‘justice run Amok’ here. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/415 "2007-05-23T19:24:20Z")
**Squink** , aren’t you paying attention? She _said_ she didn’t mean to! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/416 "2007-05-23T19:50:33Z")
She also says she [never discussed the firings with Rove or Miers.](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/23/goodling.testimony/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/417 "2007-05-23T19:52:12Z")
Well, that’s entirely plausible, according to all testimony, nobody ever discussed anything with anybody, at any time. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/418 "2007-05-23T19:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] She also says she [never discussed the firings with Rove or Miers.](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/23/goodling.testimony/index.html) [/QUOTE] Just to bump this into the ridiculous and obviously either false or carefully parsed, she said that she’d never had a conversation with either Rove or Miers. Which would either mean that the White House/DoJ liaison never once spoke to the White House Counsel or they never _spoke_, which doesn’t rule out e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/419 "2007-05-23T20:06:21Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Well, that’s entirely plausible, according to all testimony, nobody ever discussed anything with anybody, at any time. [/QUOTE] That’s not true. According to Gonzo all sorts of people discussed stuff with all sorts of other people. He just doesn’t know who or what. The only thing he’s sure about is it sure wasn’t him. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/420 "2007-05-23T20:49:47Z")
The [FReeper thread](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1838573/posts) on Goodling’s testimony is priceless! (And even **they** are disgusted with Gonzalez.) Democratic Underground has [15 ongoing threads on it at last count,](http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x951091) which should surprise no one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824.md?page=22)