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In Gonzales' DOJ, Lesbian Rumors Could Cost You Your Job
It wasn't just Democrats who Monica Goodling was trying to rid the Justice Department of. If you were gay -- or even rumored to be gay -- your career was in jeopardy.
Today's IG report offers new details in the case of Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Hagen, whose tenure at Main Justice came to an end because Monica Goodling picked up on rumors that Hagen was gay and had an allegedly romantic relationship with her supervisor, the then-U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Margaret Chiara.
Hagen, whose case was first reported by NPR in April, is not identified by name in the IG's report. However, her attorney confirmed to TPMmuckraker this afternoon that Hagen is the unnamed, allegedly lesbian, AUSA detailed in the report.
"I think the report vindicates what she has been saying all along," said Lisa Banks of Katz, Marshall and Banks LLP. "That she was the victim of pernicious discrimination from Monica Goodling."
Hagen had worked as a federal prosecutor for Chiara in Michigan before being detailed to DOJ headquarters in Washington, where she she worked in the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA). When it was time to renew Hagen's detail to the EOUSA, Goodling blocked it, and prevented her from obtaining other details within DOJ as well.
Calling Goodling's actions "wholly inappropriate," the report concluded that Goodling broke federal law in discriminating based on sexual orientation.
The ostensible reason for the actions taken against Hagen were rumors that she had improperly benefited financially from the purported relationship with Chiara, in the form of large bonuses and trips with Chiara at government expense. The report concludes, however, that Goodling never substantiated the allegations of financial improprieties and that Hagen's rumored sexual orientation was the reason she was not allowed to remain at Main Justice. One of the witnesses cited in the report is Mary Beth Buchanan, the former executive director of the EOUSA who remains the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh:
Buchanan said that Goodling told her that the AUSA and the U.S. Attorney were involved in a relationship, and that it would not be appropriate for the Department to do anything to further that relationship, such as employing them in the same geographic area. According to Buchanan, at that time the U.S. Attorney was trying to find a position in the Washington, D.C. area. Buchanan said she understood that Goodling was telling her not to select the AUSA because it would look like the Department was sanctioning the homosexual relationship.
As to the veracity of the rumors that surrounded Hagen and Chiara, Hagen's attorney described them as "completely false" in the interview with TPMmuckraker. "There was nothing to verify that my client was gay -- she never identified as such," Banks said. "The supposed relationship between her and the U.S. attorney was completely false, and nothing more than co-workers and friends. There was no improper relationship. No improper government trips. No improper bonuses."
Calls to Chiara's office were not immediately returned.
It's not clear what, if any, light the Hagen episode shines on the firing of Chiara as U.S. attorney. The professed reasons for the firings of the eight U.S. attorneys have never been very clear, but the circumstances surrounding Chiara's removal have been especially murky. Appointed U.S. attorney in 2001, she was asked to resign by Michael Elston, the chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, in November 2006. That was more than a month before the seven other U.S. attorneys were fired, in calls from Michael Battle, who had succeeded Buchanan as the executive director of the EOUSA. Chiara's resignation was effective March 16, 2007.
The official, albeit vague, reasons for Chiara's firing were "poor management issues" and a "loss of confidence by career individuals," according to then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in testimony to the Senate. But there was scant documentation within DOJ of Chiara's alleged problems.
In the absence of a more substantial explanation from the justice Department for Chiara's firing, it's not unreasonable to wonder if the rumors of her lesbian relationship with Hagen led to Chiara's downfall, too.
As a Republican source told NPR, "To some people, that's even worse than being a Democrat."
Monica bends over and takes it only from Jesus. Kyle Sampson will tak it from anyone who delivers to this balding rove ass sucking doughboy.
July 28, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
tbhull: This is totally inappropriate and in violation of our commenting policy. See here: (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/termsofuse.php). If you can't respect the policy, we'll be blocking your account.
~Lila
July 29, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can appreciate that you have policies governing language, but in the comment block below yours, the words (probably entirely accurate, by the way) blond bitch appear, and so far, no objections, So is your sense of insult that Jesus had a male member, or that he was possibly gay, or is it that sexual comments are generally offensive on pure grounds of prudishness, while ordinary swear words are not ? After all, the offensive comment used only the words ass sucking, which certainly are swear words, but you have to admit, generate a very colorful metaphor, don't you think ?
July 29, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't nit-pick. When it comes to judging these things, the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts. The statement taken as a whole can be pretty well described as vulgar and obscene, and the conditions of use prohibit such postings. It's not a matter of particular words, and you can construct colorful metaphors without stooping to the pornographic.
July 29, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
With all due respect, it is our so-called administration which has become obscenely obscene. If I were free to use the language which accurately describes this bunch of gangsters and cretins, there wouldn't be a polite word in the house. The plain truth is that we're really pissed off out here in the blogoshpere, and I can assure you that if there were enough guillotines to go around, the only operative word left would
be "bloody", as in rivers of.
July 29, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
As much as I would like to lay everything at the feet of this egregious Administration, it has to be remembered that they wouldn't have been able to act quite so egregiously without the cooperation of Congressional Democrats. Where is the sort of outrage that was directed at the Nixon administration over Watergate? Where even is the level of outrage that was directed at Bill Clinton -- by Democrats as well as Republicans -- over a dalliance with an intern? Instead, the Democratic leadership has allowed itself to be co-opted into some of the Administration's worst abuses because they were too timid to cry foul.
July 29, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, you can only lay blame at their feet starting two years ago. The monsters in the republican party and the cooperating eunuchs in the MSM get all the credit for the 5+ years preceding.
July 29, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope, I don't buy that. As the Congressional Republicans have amply demonstrated, being in the minority does not make you powerless. Congressional Democrats seem to have chosen to be powerless, and they still are choosing to be powerless even though they now hold a majority (albeit slim) in Congress.
July 29, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well we could argue this one for a long time; however, for me the people who helped to put a country I used to be proud of into the toilet were mainly the folks in the media. It was and always has been their job to be a royal pain in the ass to pose very tough questions to, and to get in the faces of, the administration to pry loose the truth. But really, they were among the earliest and loudest cheerleaders in assisting the Bushies in the dismantling of many of our basic rights and freedoms, and they still are. I see next to no evidence that the US media has even after all of this begun to acquire a backbone. I live in europe, and I think an awful lot of americans would be truly shocked to see how much of what happens in the world is not reported in the home of the brave. The fourth estate in the US has folded. Full Stop. I do agree with you however, about the spineless wonders in the democratic leadership. Have a nice day/good evening.
July 29, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Truly reminds me more and more of Nazi's and their desire to eradicate anything not blond haired and blue eyed.
Jews.
Gays.
Social democrats.
etc.
First they came for me...and all.
And no one will pay for it. Nothing will happen. And our country continues its slide into otherworld status.
This little blond bitch goes on with her life, her fiance goes on with his lying, hateful website and that's that.
Disgusting. Completely disgusting.
July 28, 2008 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
After so many instances of gay bashing Republicans turning out to be, um, gay, they no longer deserve to be taken at their word with respect to their own sexuality.
I am hereby assuming, from here on out, that Monica Goodling is a lesbian.
July 28, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Film at 11.
July 28, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad to hear it. It will make her stay in prison that much easier.
July 29, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny as hell.
July 29, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
self-loathing would go a long toward explaining her behavior.
July 29, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny, except it's a major insult to all lesbians.
July 29, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody have any idea what the nude-statue-draper has been doing for the past year?
July 28, 2008 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I posted this on the egregious EPA thread, but it equally applies here; apologies for the slothy cross-post:
Has there ever been a more fuck-you/lawless administration in our country's history??
If there's one thing the past 8 years have taught me, it's been to learn how to hate.
I could -happily- put these miscreant motherfuckers up against the proverbial wall and pull the trigger. My disgust has become that complete.
July 28, 2008 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will the maggots refrain from crawling through Monica's eye sockets when her time has shortly passed?
July 28, 2008 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since Buchanan admits she did not chose the Assistant US Attorney for a position because of allegations of a homosexual relationship, isn't she guilty of discrimination as well?
I realize Goodling is knee deep; however it appears from your article on the report that Buchanan was fully aware of the action she was taking and why and as such would she not also be guilty of breaking the law????
July 29, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, I would welcome others viewpoints on the above question.
July 29, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody else we want to toss in the dock is fine with me, too, but Goodling definitely needs to do time. No question.
You cannot apply for a Federal job only to have the Goon Squad ask you what it is you so admire about our great President George W. Bush that you want to serve him. That's 1970s Latin America, that's Radovan Karadzic, that's Robert Mugabe, but it's not USA. Not without jail time. She needs to go to jail and it needs to be highly publicized. Bush needs to be put on notice not to pardon the creep or be himself an accessory to grotesque political abuse.
July 29, 2008 3:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, but after being given immunity for her testimony, even though it was limited immunity, I fear it would be difficult to impossible to prosecute her for this. (I would love to find out otherwise, though.)
I'd like to think she could at least be used to go after Gonzalez, but I also fear his "I know nothing, I remember nothing, I was just an empty suit" schtick would probably get him off, especially if Monica decided to take the fall for it.
Is there a possibility they could be liable for a civil suit, though? Are government employees completely immune from suit over official acts, or does admitting to breaking the law open you up to liability?
July 29, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's qualified immunity. Admission doesn't make a difference, I don't think. The question is more along the lines of whether it's clearly outside the bounds of your job duties. Similar issue for prosecuting police brutality (or theoretically CIA torture).
August 1, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
coralsea,
Kindly refrain from from discussing acts of violence against any body -as such discussion are uncivil and potentially could be construed as threats that could leave some in legal jeporady .
Perhaps your animosity coralsea could best be channeled into disbarring as many of these Regent mini-me lawyers as possible - followed by wrongful termination law suits -which then could allow for discovery depositions that could be used for later indictments..But at the very least we should get these wrong doers disbarred ..
but again ixnay on the "line em up against the wall and shoot 'em " ay .....
July 29, 2008 5:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
i'm sure Coralsea was referring to the trigger of the squirt gun. because simple violence is not the best answer. rather, a long, embarrassing trial and public mockery is the best answer. and a big ol' scarlet "W" so everybody knows who these losers served.
July 29, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
One of Monica's search engine code words, aside from the usual "Democrat, liberal, pro-choice", etc., was "spotted owl"...
This girl is a hoot...
July 29, 2008 6:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've heard her favorite "South Park" episode is A Woodland Critter's Christmas.
July 29, 2008 7:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yay, blood orgy! Yay!!!
July 29, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
When the USA scandal broke, there were a number of stories about Chiara that mentioned her being single. I think one even said something about her close friend. Reading between the lines, I assumed she was gay.
I wish the investigation had looked into whether Chiara was fired for being gay. From everything I read, she did not at all deserve the treatment she was given by the Bush administration.
The lowlife snotnosed weasels at DoJ were ever so annoyed because Chiara had the nerve to ask for more time before resigning and wanted help landing another federal job.
All in all, I don't know Goodling lives with herself.
Did she wake up in the morning filled with happiness because she was going to strip a homosexual of his or her livelihood in the name of the United States of America?
July 29, 2008 7:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
If I were running the place lesbian rumors would be reason to hire someone...
July 29, 2008 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, remember the technique. Go after the foot soldiers first to get them to flip on the higher-ups.
I like how this is developing.
July 29, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
What I want to know is, who will make these people pay? Religious nutjobs need to be taught that they can't inject their religion into government. I want serious jailtime for these "patriots".
July 29, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The lists of wrongs committed under this Administration are unbelieveable . . . the sad part is that all of those guilty of participating walk away scott free. Do those fired under this major conspiracy get their jobs back? Do those truly unqualified (but Bush croanies) presently holding the positions get to stay?
What is the use of learning all of this if nothing is done? Hearings, hearings, hearings . . . I am so fed up with "all talk and no action"!
July 29, 2008 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Disgusting! How could someone with such a strong religious background miss the point that she was/is breaking many of the Commandments deliberately day in and day out. I am not religious but all the people I surround myself with have values that leave her and most of the Bush administration in the dust for the Heaven run. That's why I gag when politicians trot out their religious values. Walk the walk people! Talk is cheap.
July 29, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sadly, nothing is likely to happen to any of these law breakers. There is no accountability in this country unless you are poor and/or of color. (and then, you don't have to be guilty of anything more) The liars and torturers have murdred hundreds of thousands of people and we'll be building their libraries and memorials. How long till Nancy Peolosi ends up with her multi million dollar board job with Exxon or Ratheon or whichever merchants of death? In their misguided efforts to do no more harm to our nation, the Democrats have thrown generations of babies out with the bath water. Impeach Bush! Impeach Cheney!
July 29, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
The important thing to remember throughout all this is that GOD is telling them to do all this... and its not that muslim god who misdirects folks and turns them evil...
Amazing... tell folks your a christian and (as of current polls) at least 28 percent of our population will support you when you decide to torture folks. Scary
July 29, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is there a site that displays Monica Goodling's immunity agreement? It would be nice to know the parameters the instrument allows for prosecution.
July 29, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
We really need to establish an institute for wayward Republican women, who just lost their way, in efforts to promote down home values and American democracy across the globe.
We could call it the Fawn Hall Institute for Fallen Fems, with a Condi Rice wing and a Kathleen Harris hall. __________ (fill in your own department.
July 29, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
The only punishment Goodling will receive is a job in a future Republican administration.
July 29, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or perhaps a fat contract as a talk show host or a Fox News commentator.
July 29, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's one other issue that concerns me quite a bit in all of this.
I don't know how many attorneys were hired under these practices, but we now have a group of attorneys who quite likely are conservative, Republican ideologues who are now in career DOJ positions.
Who knows what type of agendas these folks bring along with their hiring.
Shouldn't there be at least some type of review of these individuals to determine if they should remain in their positions, or not?
July 29, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not only are there conservative ideologues in the DOJ but there are hundreds (thousands?) of them populating federal and local courts.
All a part of Karl Rove's "Permanent Republican Majority". Marginalize Congress and pack the Courts. We are in for decades of activist judgements that will effect our lives for the worse.
July 29, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goodling is a none to bright weasel who believes she is an instrument of god. But, if she sees the real possibility of jail time in her future she would sell out her mother to save her ass. However, I don't want to see an indictment before Jan 21, 2009 when the pardon powers of the chimp will be history.
July 29, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shameless plug for my "Two Monicas" screenplay.
www.policyinsight.org/monicas
July 29, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with Coralsea on this one. The damage the neocon right has done to this country is so severe, many of them deserve to leave office a la Nicoli Ceaucesco. We all know that if they fully had their way, we'd have a full-blown police state (we've already got 1/2 that now) where this type of thing would be perfectly acceptable. It would be poetic justice to see them depart this earth in the same style.
We're not any worse than somebody who's pro-death penalty. In fact, many criminals executed in this country are guilty of far less severe crimes than the current administration and its cronies.
And no, this is not a threat. It's simply a statement of what some people deserve.
July 29, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink