TPMMuckraker

Hill: DoJ Investigators Digging toward Major Report

In March of last year, the Justice Department launched an internal probe of the U.S. attorney firings to be led by its inspector general, the widely-respected Glenn Fine, and the Office of Professional Responsibility.

Ever since then, things have been pretty quiet, except when Fine would confirm to Congress that he’d widened his probe to include the general politicization of the Justice Department, whether Alberto Gonzales tried to coach his former aide Monica Goodling on her testimony to Congress, and other outgrowths of the scandal. He’s still not done. And given the scope of his probe that’s understandable. The report could serve as a comprehensive indictment of Gonzales’ Justice Department. Fine has the option of referring his findings for a criminal investigation or investigations.

The Hill reported this morning that all indications are that the investigators have been following through, interviewing all nine of the fired U.S. attorneys and “scores of staffers.” And although Fine has never said when the probe will wrap-up, the Hill cites “one source close to the investigation” who “expects the offices to issue a scathing report within the next three months.” We’ll see.

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