Comments (57)

Repack Rider wrote on May 14, 2007 5:40 PM:

This statement is written in the first person. Who signed it?

obsessed wrote on May 14, 2007 5:46 PM:

"Who signed it?"

Bert had given his signature authority to Sampson and Delilah, but with them gone, he's still looking for another Regent's grad who knows how to write in cursive.

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on May 14, 2007 5:46 PM:

I wonder if McNulty's resignation has anything to do with what Monica Goodling was doing in his office in the fall of 2004 (link below).

Probably not. McNulty probably got the boot for spilling the beans about why Bud Cummins was fired.

Aaron G. Stock wrote on May 14, 2007 5:47 PM:

"Paul has been an effective manager of day-to-day operations [even though I can't recall what he's done that's made him effective]."

"He has also been the principal driver of the Department’s policies and efforts to prevent corporate fraud and stop those who seek to defraud the taxpayers through fraudulent procurement practices. In addition, he has made significant contributions to establishing the rule of law in Iraq."

So does McNulty know where that $10+ billion went in Iraq?

brianm0122 wrote on May 14, 2007 5:55 PM:

Hmmm,

How did Gonzales find out?

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on May 14, 2007 5:58 PM:

The AG forgot to thank McNulty for stalling every investigation of GOP corruption from Abramoff to Wade to Weldon.

G4AM wrote on May 14, 2007 5:59 PM:

Score this one for Monica. Immunity brings out the knives.

SteveW wrote on May 14, 2007 5:59 PM:

brianm0122

That's a good point! I'm guessing Karl Rove pulled the string letting Abu Gonzo some guy named McNulty was going to take the fall...We all know what a bad memory Fredo has, so someone probably had to show him a picture of McNulty and explain, "this is the guy we're gong to blame for your F-ups."

Steve5117 wrote on May 14, 2007 6:01 PM:

I saw this on a San Antonio site, recogonize any names?
Missing money mystery hits S.A.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA051207.01A.1031Missing.35ae763.html

Anna S. wrote on May 14, 2007 6:03 PM:

"significant contributions to establishing the rule of law in Iraq"

There's rule of law in Iraq?

Huh. I thought Bush would have told us if anything had changed for the better like that.

Jesse wrote on May 14, 2007 6:04 PM:

"Before serving as Deputy, Paul was U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, where he successfully prosecuted some of our Nation's highest profile cases in the War on Terror."

Can anyone enlighten me on this? Which cases was this guy prosecuting? All the high profile cases I can think of involve bumbling government prosecutions that border on the miscarriage of law.

WTF wrote on May 14, 2007 6:05 PM:

Paul was U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, where he successfully prosecuted some of our Nation's highest profile cases in the War on Terror

What when who...

Elisabet wrote on May 14, 2007 6:07 PM:

Repack Rider: you ask "who signed it"?

It is a press release from the DOJ titled:
"Statement of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales on the Resignation of Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mcnulty"

So, AGAG himself. Or whomever has been secretly granted authority for personel decisions, to be made in the AG's name of course. Whatever. (With Goodling gone, who is Karl Rove's proxie in the DOJ these days?)

Steve5117 wrote on May 14, 2007 6:09 PM:

Why did he make the anouncement in San Antonio and who did he meet with behing closed door?

Inquiring minds want to know....

jdw wrote on May 14, 2007 6:10 PM:

I love when Mrs Panstreppon gets all fired up about Kyle, Monica and Timmy. :-)

Rebel wrote on May 14, 2007 6:10 PM:

Paul may have procecuted many terrorist but Bush still has our soldiers dying needlessly in Iraq. Bush can now claim 3400 dead Americans based on a lie.

Heck of a job there Dubya.

dean moriarity wrote on May 14, 2007 6:13 PM:

Does Gonzo even recall who McNulty is?

duster wrote on May 14, 2007 6:13 PM:

He prosecuted Moussoui (sp.) The so called 20th highjacker.

Rich in Seattle wrote on May 14, 2007 6:20 PM:

Here is an editorial written in this afternoon's Seattle Times by John McKay.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003703476_attorned13.html

C 92 wrote on May 14, 2007 6:25 PM:

Wasn't there a government career lawyer who was thrown off of the Moussaui case for having done something untoward? Maybe sharing evidence with someone?

Anyone remember?

Might that have been a possible retaliation from the politicals at DOJ?

Anonymous wrote on May 14, 2007 6:29 PM:

The attorney was Carla Jean Martin, a mid-career attorney.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/16/carla.martin/index.html

She was called "..."inept" and a "miscreant" and wrote that her actions were "apparently criminal behavior"..." by "the three assistant US attorneys."

I wonder who those assistant USA's were. The Moussaui case was being prosecuted by McNulty - and he had Monica Goodling as an Assistant US Attorney in that capacity for while...

mo2 wrote on May 14, 2007 6:31 PM:

Last week, it looked like McNulty was not in the White House/DOJ loop. And then today he resigned - effective later in summer. So is McNulty going to testify against Gonzales? Is McNulty with AG/Rove or against AG/Rove? Or is he waiting to see what Goodling says before he decides?

Punchy wrote on May 14, 2007 6:36 PM:

Timeline of future activities:

McNuts, freed of Omerta, will begin to let some of his angst out, ala the NewMex USA. The DOJ will Swiftboat his ass, play him as a fool, an incompetent, and trash his rep, ala the NewMex USA. He will then be emboldened to spill the beans on Gonzo.

Gonzo will then be asked to testify once again, get hammered, but slink back into his office unscathed. And this process will just keep revolving...more revelations, more testimony, more embarrasment....but in the end, more Gonzo until 2009.

bjobotts wrote on May 14, 2007 6:37 PM:

Is Gonzales going to recollect writing this. Will he be able to recall it tomorrow? I know he will accept the responsibility for releasing it but did he have someone else write or does he recall?

uncle vester wrote on May 14, 2007 6:44 PM:

Elisabet-

"With Goodling gone, who is Karl Rove's proxie in the DOJ these days?"

Good question. Who is the WH/DOJ liaison these days?

Rowland Scherman wrote on May 14, 2007 6:48 PM:

Where is the vaunted Democrat backbone? This transparent crap
has gone on quite long enough!

Have all you bloggers writtem to your representatives about this?
I, for one, have. I got back a form letter. Is that the end of it?

Zeb Norris wrote on May 14, 2007 6:55 PM:

"Later this summer"???

It's spring. Summer doesn't start until June 21st.

They absolutly can't get ANYTHING right.

mo2 wrote on May 14, 2007 7:00 PM:

McNulty answered questions about the Patriot Act on July 20, 2005 :
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20050720.html

mo2 wrote on May 14, 2007 7:20 PM:

Don't bother reading my link above. It is not interesting by itself, it is just more irony that is somewhat amusing.

Richard L. Adlof wrote on May 14, 2007 7:21 PM:

Mrs Panstreppon @ May 14, 2007 05:46 PM,

Are we implying that another Monica had a under the desk job to add to her resume?

mo2 wrote on May 14, 2007 7:30 PM:

"monica" is Latin for "eager"

mo2 wrote on May 14, 2007 7:36 PM:

Very interesting choice of words in the John McKay article linked above. The editorial starts with this phrase (note "specter"):

"The specter of potential criminal wrongdoing"

Official A wrote on May 14, 2007 7:39 PM:

Have all you bloggers writtem to your representatives about this? Posted by: Rowland Scherman

Some of us don't have representation, just Republicans.

observor wrote on May 14, 2007 7:43 PM:

Did he ever cheat on his wife?

terry wrote on May 14, 2007 7:53 PM:

okay, lets split into two groups.
Half of us chase mcnutty and the other half stay on gonzo. or maybe lets split into 4 groups...or maybe 8 groups...ah sh@t, there are too many rats jumping everywhich way for me to know who to follow.

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on May 14, 2007 8:20 PM:

Richard L. Adlof@May 14, 2007 07:21 PM

Nah. If Goodling was under a desk with anyone, it was Ashcroft who adored her brownies, took her on overnight trips and gave her "special" projects.

I suspect Goodling was working on the Bush campaign when she was supposedly prosecuting b.s. plea bargains out of USA-EDVA McNulty's office in the fall of 2004.

Sampson was another one who supposedly did a six-month stint at McNulty's office in 2003 but, according to his SJC testimony, Sampson only has one criminal case under his belt. It was in Palm Beach in March 2004 when the weather is really, really nice. Free vacation is what it was.

mo2 wrote on May 14, 2007 8:33 PM:

Here little mousy, mousy, come on. Come on, it's okay. Yeah, poor little mousy on dat big old ship with those mean old pussy tats.

cnalb wrote on May 14, 2007 8:48 PM:

Why do I get the impression Gonzo did not write or even dictate this statement?
Code word much as in not much chance.

TexasEllen wrote on May 14, 2007 9:20 PM:

Code word Snake. About time to impeach Gonzo. That would be entertaining, remove Bush's ability to pardon him, and let every AUSA or former USA/AUSA with revulsion at the state of the Justice Dept. testify at length.

OC dem wrote on May 14, 2007 9:33 PM:

Gonzales probably wanted to add just a bit more:

"Now he's probably going to write a book about what a jerk I am.

"Screw you, Paul. You're the jerk. You're the jerk."

G4AM wrote on May 14, 2007 9:38 PM:

Code word = pain. The Bushites may not know it yet, but they are beginning to experience the PAIN they deserve. Let them continue this experience until they reach HELL and then on and on until the end of time.

Sharon A wrote on May 14, 2007 9:47 PM:

So is McNulty like ....political shark bait? And do Bushitas really believe the issue dies if they throw McNulty overboard?

larue wrote on May 14, 2007 10:00 PM:

AG GAG ME WITH A SHOVEL!

McNulty did evil, was evil, and has now skipped merrily and briskly down the dock ropes in his abandonment of all things whacked off crazily.

Gonzo is putting the finger on the Mc Nut, but that won't fly cuz the rat turds are already at CSI and they reveal what's behind the sordid and rancid lunch consumed by the crew.

Still, the Dem's are fed by the same AIPAC and general PAC, and MIC, and Big Brother Bucks Turds as the ThugFuckers are.

Who will change that?

Derek wrote on May 14, 2007 10:17 PM:

I’ve known Mr. McNulty personally my whole life. He is a good man with impeccable character. It’s a shame this witchhunt is throwing mud on an honorable leader. He is wisely leaving, but it is the country’s loss. Places like Congress and the Justice Dept need more people like him.

TCelsinore wrote on May 14, 2007 10:27 PM:

When will just one of these people with impeccable character stand up and tell the truth. We have young men and women giving their lives while these wormy characters in the DOJ are worried about their carriers.........

KY3 Democrat wrote on May 14, 2007 10:48 PM:

larue said: "...the rat turds are already at CSI and they reveal what's behind the sordid and rancid lunch consumed by the crew."

Ahh, larue, you are going to kill me laughing!

"This looks like a rat turd."
"No, it's a caper."

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on May 14, 2007 10:54 PM:

Derek@May 14, 2007 10:17 PM

You're not buying McNulty's college tuition story either?

Since you know McNulty, can you get him to tell you what Monica Goodling was really doing in his office in the fall of 2004?

While you're at it, find out what Kyle Sampson was really doing in 2003 when he supposedly worked out of McNulty's office for six months.

sara swati wrote on May 14, 2007 11:14 PM:

Listen to yourselves! This guy got a sweeetheart deal (hush money) to keep out of this. The reality is that his reality changed very suddenly. It's not as if he never anticipated college educations. Come one, people. It's called and "end around". He was hired away by some(one,firm,company) with a "Bonus" (the government paying said person,firm,company) pays $X to hire, hiree get bonus ($X-$Y) and a pay increase and e, voila! If you know anything about how the mafia works (er, how they don't work)then look at the big picture of the last 7 years. PAY ATTENTION! Nothing will happen unless WE make it happen. we have to drag the WH-Aholes out of the WH and into jail, personally.

BVN wrote on May 14, 2007 11:21 PM:

This is Gonzales (and, by extension, the White House) immediately telling McNulty "We will not attack your credibility the way we did the fired U.S. Attorneys".

It signals three things.

First, that Gonzales (and WH) are seriously concerned about what McNulty knows and has to say.

Second, they are trying to take away the excuse the U.S. Attorneys had for cleanly separating themselves and winning the reputation war - professionals, saying "once they went after our personal and professional integrity, I had to respond."

Third and last, through this statement, this implicit bargain is also being communicated to McClatchy, to appeal to his loyalty. They will leave him be, why doesn't he leave them be?

Anonymous wrote on May 14, 2007 11:57 PM:

sara swati ---

Listen to yourselves! This guy got a sweeetheart deal (hush money) to keep out of this. . . . It's called an "end around". He was hired away by some (one,firm,company) with a "Bonus" (the government paying said person,firm,company) pays $X to hire, hiree get bonus ($X-$Y) and a pay increase and et, voila!

If this could somehow be established, then, as I have said before, the RNC should be prosecuted under the RICO statutes.

I hope Sen. Leahy is on top of this. Haven't heard squat out of him in a while.

Security code where, as in where are you Patrick?

parrot wrote on May 15, 2007 12:03 AM:

Hey, anyone else curious what happened at the Nov 27th meeting? You know...when the handout about not taking responsibility for the firings was circulated...

Derek wrote on May 15, 2007 2:33 PM:

I've babysat for all his kids. They're all a couple years apart. It doesn't surprise me that he would be looking for a better paying job--and if I were him I would leave now too.

Hardheaded Liberal wrote on May 15, 2007 3:54 PM:

Those of us who thought there was a deal not to dis McNulty spoke too soon. Yesterday's canned farewell to McNulty from the PR room complimented McNulty and wished him well.

This morning AG Gonzo has blessed McNulty's parting with a taped statement that McNulty was the person "who knew the most" about the decision(s) to fire the eight US Attorneys. AGAG is trying for a double bonus here: (1) Ask the other guy; he knows everything, I know nothing; and (2) Since the SOB is deserting me, I'll blame the whole mess on him!

Such an elegant ploy! Sic'im MSM! Leave me (AGAG) out of it. [Dammit, I'm sure I heard Gonzo's quote on NPR news on the hour, but I cannot find it on the NPR website anywhere.]

If there is a purgatory, Gonzo will spend a very long time there... perhaps an eternity?

Security code: Cloth, as in something to stuff in Gonzo's lying mouth!

JNagarya wrote on May 16, 2007 8:01 AM:

Asserting that McNulty did much to establish the rule of law in Iraq is a compliment? Yo, Fredo: Can you say "civil war"?

Otherwise: what is the sequence as concerns McNulty resignation, and latest -- spectacular -- Comey testimony? Would McNulty's resignation encourage Comey?

JNagarya wrote on May 16, 2007 8:18 AM:

"Where is the vaunted Democrat backbone? This transparent crap
has gone on quite long enough!

"Have all you bloggers writtem to your representatives about this?
I, for one, have. I got back a form letter. Is that the end of it?

"Posted by: Rowland Scherman
Date: May 14, 2007 06:48 PM"

I got a response from my Rep. which was finely detailed. Even used the term "impeachment". Implicity communicated caution, based upon necessity to investigate, and gather evidence "first".

I had hammered my focus on torture as a war crime that cannot be made legal. In response to his, I responded as finely, giving a fuller explication of my understanding (I'm a legal professional) of the necessary due process -- and repeated my statement of the facts re. torture being a war crime that cannot be made legal.

In short: it was so detailed and thoughtful that it is more likely from my Rep. rather than a staffer.

I think matters are on track, and on schedule. And a fourth Rep. (not mine) has signed on the the Kucinich resolution to impeach Dick "Five Deferments"/"Go F**k Yourself" Cheney.

Comey's testimony yesterday about the Bush-Geney-Gonzales-Card effort to shake down Ashcroft was not only spectacular (anyone know where there are video clips of the highlights?) but also did much to move the ball forward -- a Republican named Specter brought up Watergate and "Saturday Night Massacre".

JNagarya wrote on May 16, 2007 8:27 AM:

"This is Gonzales (and, by extension, the White House) immediately telling McNulty "We will not attack your credibility the way we did the fired U.S. Attorneys".

"It signals three things.

"First, that Gonzales (and WH) are seriously concerned about what McNulty knows and has to say.

"Second, they are trying to take away the excuse the U.S. Attorneys had for cleanly separating themselves and winning the reputation war - professionals, saying "once they went after our personal and professional integrity, I had to respond."

"Third and last, through this statement, this implicit bargain is also being communicated to McClatchy, to appeal to his loyalty. They will leave him be, why doesn't he leave them be?"

Snyone else notice the silence from the WH about the fired prosecutors? No flood of smears; no Swift Boat Liars for Lying attacks on them?

What is the WH afraid of?

JNagarya wrote on May 16, 2007 8:34 AM:

"This morning AG Gonzo has blessed McNulty's parting with a taped statement that McNulty was the person "who knew the most" about the decision(s) to fire the eight US Attorneys."

Great! McNulty can use that to back up his testimony when he spills the beans:

"Fredo Gonzo himself said I knew the most about the firings. And that was before he forgot that he had amnesia complicated with Reaganisimus Alzheimers "I don't knowism."

"And, as he has no memory, he can't now claim to know I'm not telling the truth."