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Schlozman Leaves Justice Department
Bradley Schlozman, a former Justice Department official who was at the center of the U.S. attorneys scandal and is under investigation by the Departments inspector general for his alleged efforts to politicize the Civil Rights Division, has finally left his post at the Department.
After he left his position as the U.S. attorney in Kansas City this April, Schlozman moved to the Justice Department office that oversees all U.S. attorneys. Reached on his cell phone today, Schlozman confirmed that he'd left the Department last week, but refused to say anything more and then hung up.
That makes Schlozman the latest in a long line of Department officials to leave in the wake of the firings scandal, including former White House liaison Monica Goodling, chief of staff Kyle Sampson, Acting Associate Attorney General William Mercer, Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, and his chief of staff Michael Elston.
Before being tapped as the U.S. attorney for Kansas City in March of 2006 (after his predecessor Todd Graves was abruptly fired), Schlozman oversaw the voting rights section of the Civil Rights Division with an iron hand. Former employees say that, in tandem with Hans von Spakovsky, Schlozman gutted the voting rights division's efforts to protect African-American voters and made sure that the group did not oppose voter ID laws. The two also punished lawyers and other employees who did not toe the line, former employees say, sometimes changing performance evaluations to add negative comments.
Schlozman has further been accused of politicizing the hiring at the Civil Rights Division, famously commenting that he was replacing Democratic hires with "good Americans." It's this activity which the Department's joint internal investigation, led by the inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility, is probing.
After he was appointed as a U.S. attorney in the spring of 2006, Schlozman pursued indictments against four voter registration workers for ACORN just days before the 2006 election, a move which became more controversial in the context of the firings scandal. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Schlozman claimed that he'd brought the indictments "at the direction" of the director of the Election Crimes Branch in the Public Integrity Section. He subsequently revised that testimony to reflect that he himself had pursued the indictments and had gotten approval from the section.
The Justice Department did not respond to our request for comment.
Comments (68)
two beers wrote on August 20, 2007 5:10 PM:The Schloz is leaving to seek help for his helium addiction.
lysias wrote on August 20, 2007 5:10 PM:So how many high-level DOJ people have left their jobs since last year's election?
Anonymous wrote on August 20, 2007 5:13 PM:Doesn't it seem like too much of a coincindence that both Rove and Schlotzman "decided" to leave their positions at the same time?
two beers wrote on August 20, 2007 5:16 PM:"Doesn't it seem like too much of a coincindence that both Rove and Schlotzman "decided" to leave their positions at the same time?"
The Schloz is leaving to spend more time with Karl.
lysias wrote on August 20, 2007 5:24 PM:Tony Snow is about to leave the administration, and said there are probably a couple of other imminent departures.
Ba'al wrote on August 20, 2007 5:24 PM:He should have been fired for having a voice like Spongebob Squarepants among his many other crimes.
TheraP wrote on August 20, 2007 5:30 PM:Replacement for Tony Snow: How about Michael Skube?
SteveW wrote on August 20, 2007 5:39 PM:Yet our Emperor and Fredo continue to tell us,"there's not a single case where Congress has proven any wrongdoing." So, exactly why are these people leaving their jobs (cough) if everything was on the up-and-up?
You know, what's more scary is that incurious George really doesn't know what the heck was going on over at DOJ and just blithely claims, "nothing improper has taken place."
And yes, Shloz has that weird, girly, high-pitched squeal of a voice...like the rest of the Bush Administration clowns.
The fact that Gonzo's cool with being referred to as "Fredo" by W. reflects just what a dumbass butt-boy he is...you know, Fredo was the dumb and dumber brother in The Godfather. Pathetic!
SteveW wrote on August 20, 2007 5:41 PM:Yet our Emperor and Fredo continue to tell us,"there's not a single case where Congress has proven any wrongdoing." So, exactly why are these people leaving their jobs (cough) if everything was on the up-and-up?
You know, what's more scary is that incurious George really doesn't know what the heck was going on over at DOJ and just blithely claims, "nothing improper has taken place."
And yes, Shloz has that weird, girly, high-pitched squeal of a voice...like the rest of the Bush Administration clowns.
The fact that Gonzo's cool with being referred to as "Fredo" by W. reflects just what a dumbass butt-boy he is...you know, Fredo was the dumb and dumber brother in The Godfather. Pathetic!
spinn wrote on August 20, 2007 5:45 PM:I'm surprised he didn't resign on Friday.
Or actually, where'd this information come from? You didn't link to a press release or anything, did you get this before it was official?
Caye wrote on August 20, 2007 5:49 PM:Bet by the end of this administration all of them will have Dubi addresses. Wonder what its extradition policy is with the US? Just asking.
JGabriel wrote on August 20, 2007 5:50 PM:So what's Schlozman going to do now?
I suspect he's planning to spend more time vote caging for the 2008 elections.
moondancer wrote on August 20, 2007 5:50 PM:The timing tells us something very big is imminent. WTF is going on? One of these out-of-the-limelight investigations must be coming out w/something radioactive.
BluestateRedhead wrote on August 20, 2007 6:01 PM:Hans von Spakovsky: where does his appt to the FEC stand?
Cap'n Phealy wrote on August 20, 2007 6:02 PM:I fully expect Gonzo to be the only person left at DOJ by mid-08. I can just see him testifying to Congress:
"Hey, it only takes me five minutes to decide a death penalty case. I can do all of this stuff by myself and save the taxpayers a ton of money."
...after which he outsources all DOJ work to select Republican-friendly law firms.
JazGar wrote on August 20, 2007 6:03 PM:In the name of the lollipop guild, who'll be next? My guess is he'll be put forward the next AG after Gonzales is impeached.
Orwell's Intuition wrote on August 20, 2007 6:04 PM:The Schloz is leaving to seek help for his helium addiction.
Posted by: two beers
Bwahahahaha! I still can't reconcile that Betty-Boop voice with that Repub-man look. Snow, Rove, Schlozman, on their way out. Too bad it's not bush, cheney, gonzales.
BluestateRedhead wrote on August 20, 2007 6:12 PM:Schlozman gone. does that make him vulnerable to prosecution for violation of voters’ rights.
and this is not exactly OT,
Dennis wrote on August 20, 2007 6:31 PM:does anyone known if any of the DOJ crowd who have left it and are under a crowd have been called before their state bars or ethics committees. can we help them along? INAL but someone out there is, perhaps anonymous is there?
I think you folks are all wet. He merely wants to spend more time with his family.
Perhaps in anticipation of only seeing them on visitor's day.
Samsara wrote on August 20, 2007 6:32 PM:Mr. Schlozman has left the Department of Justice too accept a voice role in the remake of the Disney classic "Who Framed Rodger Rabbit".
Which one of the TPM staff had the honor of calling Mr. Schlozman? Was he mad?
If you put your curser on top of his head, Bradley still looks like a little devil.
This posting will ensure me "special treatment" once they get the Ministry of Love up and running.
Witchywoman wrote on August 20, 2007 6:38 PM:The walrus and the carpenter...
... they'd eaten every one!
FMArouet wrote on August 20, 2007 6:43 PM:Orwell's Intuition:
You are on to something regarding the Rovian doughboy template (J. Scott Jennings, D. Kyle Sampson, Bradley Schlozman, Alberto Gonzales, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove himself):
It was curious how that beetle-like type proliferated in the Ministries: little dumpy men, growing stout very early in life, with short legs, swift scuttling movements, and fat inscrutable faces with very small eyes. It was the type that seemed to flourish best under the dominion of the Party.
--George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four
moondancer wrote on August 20, 2007 7:12 PM:Hey Cap'n Phealy, dont forget signing off on cheneys dark arts enterprises...
moondancer wrote on August 20, 2007 7:12 PM:Hey Cap'n Phealy, dont forget signing off on cheneys dark arts enterprises...
mgmonklewis wrote on August 20, 2007 7:26 PM:They finally got rid of The Schloz! :drama sting:
Ross Best wrote on August 20, 2007 7:29 PM:At least we know that they are capable of a phased withdrawal.
bjobotts wrote on August 20, 2007 7:51 PM:Good riddance to a mean mealey-mouthed political hack who ruthlessly used emotional blackmail and rage to smear and destroy good career employees. Glad he's out of the Justice dept and I hope he never works in civil service again...not even as dog catcher. He thought he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it, which he did for awhile. He definitely carries the seeds of his own destruction within but let him self destruct away from the justice dept.
Dennis M wrote on August 20, 2007 8:05 PM:So many creeps are gone but the biggest one refuses to leave. He's afraid that unless he can stand in the way of investigations he will be found out and indicted. Right now he's got the King protecting him while he protects the king but one day the truth will out and their corruption will astonish even the Republicans wearing blinders.
The Schloz's voice:
Jerry Lewis in the original "Nutty Professor."
Mysterious Traveler wrote on August 20, 2007 8:07 PM:Nobody wants to spend more time with their family.
edsnotes wrote on August 20, 2007 8:11 PM:I'm just wondering how soon he will assert executive privilege so he can ignore congress
Ross Best wrote on August 20, 2007 8:23 PM:"Nobody wants to spend more time with their family."
Some people who are in or on their way to prison do.
Anonymous wrote on August 20, 2007 8:30 PM:"Doesn't it seem like too much of a coincindence that both Rove and Schlotzman 'decided' to leave their positions at the same time?"
August is the Friday of months.
palefire wrote on August 20, 2007 8:36 PM:for some reason scholzman stood out for me among the many despicable DOJ persona we have heard so much about. I don't know why I fixed on him. But he really seemed like the absolute scum of the earth. Perhaps it was the Orwell quote above, somehow... that these really SMALL minded and small eyed and small souled little insects were causing so much damage, surely to people much bigger than they (I am not talking about physical stuff). I don't know. He just seemed so evil, a truly gross person. I hope TPM keeps track of him. I hope you keep track of all these f*ckers as they make their way, follow their slime trail up the ass of the neo-con think tank industry. I hope the people he tormented professionally write memoirs.
theWalrus wrote on August 20, 2007 8:38 PM:All the rats are jumping ship. It's a dirty shame none of them will truly get their comeuppance.
theWalrus wrote on August 20, 2007 8:42 PM:"I hope TPM keeps track of him. I hope you keep track of all these f*ckers as they make their way, follow their slime trail up the ass of the neo-con think tank industry."
If nothing else, they've all secured themselves a place in a future Republican administration, just like many former Nixon and Reagan hoodlums did in this administration.
EH wrote on August 20, 2007 8:45 PM:That's right Dennis, The Schloz is resigning in order to spend more time with the FROYNDLEYVEN!
palefire wrote on August 20, 2007 8:48 PM:for some reason scholzman stood out for me among the many despicable DOJ persona we have heard so much about. I don't know why I fixed on him. But he really seemed like the absolute scum of the earth. Perhaps it was the Orwell quote above, somehow... that these really SMALL minded and small eyed and small souled little insects were causing so much damage, surely to people much bigger than they (I am not talking about physical stuff). I don't know. He just seemed so evil, a truly gross person. I hope TPM keeps track of him. I hope you keep track of all these f*ckers as they make their way, follow their slime trail up the ass of the neo-con think tank industry. I hope the people he tormented professionally write memoirs.
bmaz wrote on August 20, 2007 8:56 PM:The Chipmunks must be reuniting and they need Alvin back!
Veritas78 wrote on August 20, 2007 9:08 PM:He's one of those creeps that will pop up in the next wingnut administration, like Elliot Abrams and John Poindexter.
liz wrote on August 20, 2007 9:24 PM:The Civil Rights division has been entirely gutted. I have a case that has violated the ADA in ways unimaginable and DOJ ignores it, laughs about it, and has blown me off. Well, I can with certainty tell you that no lights are on in the Atlanta Office of Civil Rights. Disabled Americans lost a lot of rights in South Carolina. Most people want to ignore this information but it proves time and time again what has happened in America.
katandmoon wrote on August 20, 2007 9:24 PM:The DOJ is closed to the little American citizen...... no doubt about it.
Some of the comments in this thread about the cartoon-voiced wonder are really mean. Thank you! I've been LMAO.
1oldlady wrote on August 20, 2007 9:42 PM:The Schloz is leaving to seek help for his helium addiction.
Posted by: two beers
Wow...I forgot about the winy voice! Thanks for the reminder! ;O
but, he may be leaving to avoid (in his mind)facing congress again. He'll get a book deal, go on some morning shows...and make a fortune doing it.
Who is going to answer the tough questions now? Gonzo??
When are these people going to held accountable? I don't care that they left...Jail is what I want to see take place
Doc Rock wrote on August 20, 2007 9:47 PM:A good story would be following where these folks all wind up working--can the AEI absorb them all?
posaune wrote on August 20, 2007 11:18 PM:per Walrus,
gallery wrote on August 20, 2007 11:18 PM:We must track all the operatives who have deprived the people of civil rights. Now is the time to begin the tracking database of the beetle-types (and the beliver nymphs) who have participated in the destruction of our constitution. Sure the Wiesenthal Center has some tips.
SQUEAK blah blah blah .... run away..... SQUEAK..... This guy was impossible to watch during the hearings. I almost had to put on closed captioning to avoid his helium squeak.
Joshua the Teacher wrote on August 20, 2007 11:45 PM:Good riddance you tiresome douchebag, hope you got one of those get out of jail free cards from uncle Karl, before we round your ass up for some JUSTICE.
Nope only kidding.... uncle Karl is saving them all for himself .... enjoy prison you squeaky bitch.
In a related story, the voice behind Sesame Street's Elmo has come down with laryngitis. Schlozman has volunteered to step in now that he has free time. This means that next week, Elmo will be teaching kids how to resurrect the Jim Crow laws.
anon wrote on August 20, 2007 11:54 PM:...So, exactly why are these people leaving their jobs (cough) if everything was on the up-and-up?...
More importantly, WTF haven't they released all the paperwork/e-mails/etc. if everything was on the up-and-up? It's true, in a fashion, that "there's not a single case where Congress has proven any wrongdoing" because, doh, we haven't seen the paperwork.
As for the timing of all these resignations, I'm not so sure it's because someone found the holy radioactive anti-GOP grail--oh, say, Jeff Gannon's private DOJ videos, or DNA tests that show that the entire DOJ is clones made in Houston lab. I'm sure they are leaving because of the heat but it's also fairly characteristic of recent GOP administrations that they turn over a zillion positions toward the end of the term just to pump up the resumes of a zillion young GOP flunkies. It's a nice pay off to get a high level DOJ post for a few months that will, say, get you a teaching gig at a Jesusy law school or a nice lobbying gig or whatever. It's smart resources management.
Riesz Fischer wrote on August 20, 2007 11:57 PM:BlueState Redhead: does anyone known if any of the DOJ crowd who have left it and are under a crowd have been called before their state bars or ethics committees.
Yeah, "They left under a crowd" means they staged a crowd full of Republicans in front of the podium and Schlozman crawled out on his all-fours between the legs of the people in the crowd. This is also referred to as "crowd cover".
mommadona wrote on August 21, 2007 12:10 AM:Why DO the RightWingNuts hate America so?
Johnsnottoodistracted wrote on August 21, 2007 12:12 AM:Knew a guy who always said "hey I never fire anyone".But as they became less useful he would stop paying them.So they quit.
olman wrote on August 21, 2007 1:23 AM:Same thing here only less visible.
When you have the rug pulled out from under you, then you must start making your own excuses why you have made up all these other excuses for other people and find you have no support at all from the other people you were paid to protect.
In fact you have become useless and a burdon.See how complicated life can be when you build your life around fraud. mmmmmmmmmmmmm what do you do?? Sneak away and get some space between you and the tidal wave coming after you??
But you are already part of the wave.How to stay clear of all the bs you are standing in??Hah!Now what?
Where's roveroolala to say what we do next??
He's moved on.He is important and was up-graded to chief roveroolala headline maker/distactor/gloom planter/etc.
He got a raise.
Bye.
What was your name?Huh?mmmm can't recall ever meeting you.
Can't recall anything anyway.
Oh well
Rove and Schloz will be poring over numbers for a while, selling their services to the high bidder...the Puke nominee. Then the caging begins, and the new US Attorneys (moles) will get their strings pulled. When the dust clears, the Pukes will have won again, and the wimpy Dems sniveling while the Supremes laugh.
olman wrote on August 21, 2007 1:23 AM:Meanwhile, the Jefferson Memorial will be seen to be leaking tears and Lincoln will fall off his perch in shame.
Rove and Schloz will be poring over numbers for a while, selling their services to the high bidder...the Puke nominee. Then the caging begins, and the new US Attorneys (moles) will get their strings pulled. When the dust clears, the Pukes will have won again, and the wimpy Dems sniveling while the Supremes laugh.
Dr. Wu wrote on August 21, 2007 1:53 AM:Meanwhile, the Jefferson Memorial will be seen to be leaking tears and Lincoln will fall off his perch in shame.
I'm just disappointed that he's not leaving to spend more time with his cellmate. This guy is a disgrace to an already disgraceful administration, and an enemy of the republic.
Peter Duffy wrote on August 21, 2007 4:43 AM:Josh, with all THE US Attorney related departures from the DOJ and White House , maybe you would run an occasional 'where are they now' report on the activities of the unlamented departed. Guys like Schlozman, Rove, Goodling,Taylor etc., have not gone away and 2008 is nigh.
Austin Cooper wrote on August 21, 2007 9:53 AM:"In a related story, the voice behind Sesame Street's Elmo has come down with laryngitis. Schlozman has volunteered to step in now that he has free time."
Actually, this isn't as odd as it seems.
Both lil' Bradley, three years old, and Elmo see things which aren't there; believe large crayon drawings of walls, curtains and computers *are* their homes; and have enraging, high-pitched laughs.
In short, each have had a psychotic break.
Elmo uses it to entertain. Lil' Bradley stubbornly refuses to admit his condition, and that is why we have to use the hose on him. Frequently.
Jano wrote on August 21, 2007 10:20 AM:Mr. Schlozman wants to spend more time with his family.
714Day wrote on August 21, 2007 11:52 AM:Oh, Pipsqueak gone! His attempt at pulling off honest sounding testimony made Alberto look like an hombre sinciero.
kar in the 'burgh wrote on August 21, 2007 11:57 AM:The "helium addiction" comment is beautiful. Justice has lsot another good American.
noshrub wrote on August 21, 2007 12:41 PM:Helium addiction! Too funny! Thanks for the laugh two beers. What about the mouth target? Does he need help with that,too?
parrot wrote on August 21, 2007 1:38 PM:"I am resigning my position to revisit a career in the GOP dirty tricks division."
VJB wrote on August 21, 2007 1:47 PM:Amen to 'Helium Addiction'. Absolutely perfect.
JParker wrote on August 22, 2007 10:54 AM:This worthless piece of crap doesn't need to just leave office; he needs to leave this world, for good.
V wrote on August 22, 2007 2:12 PM:In order to keep up with all of the politicians, we need to first shoot them with a tranquilizer dart so they can be tagged with the GPS transponder.
lostrax wrote on August 22, 2007 2:50 PM:the jefferson/lincoln memorial comment caught me. all the other comments about leaving only relate to those deals which have been finalized with golden parachutes and invisible cloaks for the "guys." (anybody hear anything lately about rummy...or how bout that ari meatboy?)
naw...ain't tears ya hear trickling from the jeff mem. now jes wait til ya see ol abe reach round to the side, push the little lever and watch the great big swirl of bubbles in the reflecting pool.
lostrax wrote on August 22, 2007 2:50 PM:the jefferson/lincoln memorial comment caught me. all the other comments about leaving only relate to those deals which have been finalized with golden parachutes and invisible cloaks for the "guys." (anybody hear anything lately about rummy...or how bout that ari meatboy?)
naw...ain't tears ya hear trickling from the jeff mem. now jes wait til ya see ol abe reach round to the side, push the little lever and watch the great big swirl of bubbles in the reflecting pool.
azbill wrote on August 22, 2007 4:37 PM:He should be going to jail instead of leaving by choice. He is nothing but a SLEAZEBALL and makes me nauseated. Such low standards by this republiscum administration.
Bettybb wrote on August 27, 2007 1:52 PM:We should have a Martin Luther King Wall of Shame with all these guys names on it.
Sure looks like Rove and Schloz are getting in position to work their "magic" for the 2008 election.
What I don't get is if you have 8/9 honest US attorneys who did not bend to the forces of evil, that means the rest did. How come Congress are not searching their cases? Why are not private attorneys contesting every single case the pliant US attorneys have brought since 2000 where it could be argued politics could have played a role?
Bettybb wrote on August 27, 2007 1:52 PM:We should have a Martin Luther King Wall of Shame with all these guys names on it.
Sure looks like Rove and Schloz are getting in position to work their "magic" for the 2008 election.
What I don't get is if you have 8/9 honest US attorneys who did not bend to the forces of evil, that means the rest did. How come Congress are not searching their cases? Why are not private attorneys contesting every single case the pliant US attorneys have brought since 2000 where it could be argued politics could have played a role?