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DoJ Tries Remedial Help for Ultra-Conservative USA, Again
This weekend The Washington Post followed up on the Office of Special Counsel's investigation into Rachel Palouse, the young US attorney from Minnesota whose management style caused three top prosecutors to resign to lower-level posts in protest.
News broke last week that the independent Office of Special Counsel was looking into Paulose for how she "mishandled classified information, retaliated against those who crossed her, and made racist remarks about a support staff employee," the Post reports.
The story also notes that those in the office she heads still do not like working for her:
In addition, an internal Justice Department audit completed last month said her employees gave her very low marks, alleging that she treats subordinates harshly and lacks the requisite experience for the job, said several sources familiar with the audit. Her performance review was so poor that Kenneth E. Melson, head of the department's Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, took the unusual step of meeting with her in Minnesota several weeks ago, two sources said.
This is the second time someone from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys had to meet with Paulose in a heated moment. Right before the major staff shake up in her office, the Department of Justice sent a representative to Minnesota to try to mediate a settlement before four top managers quit. It didn't work.
Comments (16)
Philip Wright wrote on September 24, 2007 11:42 AM:Wow,
That DOJ really goes the extra mile to support and assist those USA's that are not functioning up to par. Of couse its a good thing that Palouse has been "a loyal Bushie" or her treatment might have been just a little different - you think?
jeffgee wrote on September 24, 2007 12:01 PM:Arrogant, vindictive, incompetent. A singular personification of the Bushies.
Hugh Bin Hadde wrote on September 24, 2007 12:03 PM:Seems that for the Party that cried wolf about those damn liberals screwing up the courts, they're awfully quiet when one of their own stands out like a sore thumb announcing to the world what bad jurisprudence looks like. Let her roast in her own juices.
Brighid wrote on September 24, 2007 12:24 PM:I can't wait for the perp walk!
Vampa wrote on September 24, 2007 12:25 PM:I worked for someone like her once: someone with an inflated self opinion who was actually way, way in over her head. The more she screwed up, the tighter she clung to her self-image of superiority -- it was the people around and reporting to her who were failing, not her. The management level above her tried all sorts of "interventions," but none of them worked -- arrogant, insecure people who lack empathy cannot be coached to develop people skills. I really feel sorry for those people in her office, because it's a miserable position to be in.
Yellow Dog wrote on September 24, 2007 12:35 PM:Why does this remind me of those clueless yuppie "parents" in the mall trying to calm down their spoiled five-year-old monster as it screams and breaks its way through the toy store?
Powkat wrote on September 24, 2007 12:41 PM:I worked for someone like her, too. Every 6 months or so she would choose a target - she never seemed to have any rational reason except the need to bully someone until they quit. I lasted longer than most (kids to feed) but when my turn came I left the next day - then she gave the bad review she was cooking up for me to a friend - who took it to the division manager. Bad manager got moved to a position where she didn't supervise anyone. Not let go, of course, still sucking up those corporate bennies, unlike all the people she got ride of.
MissTerry wrote on September 24, 2007 12:49 PM:In the real world, if you're arrogant but good at your job, people will support you. And if you're likeable but bad at your job, people will support you. But if you're arrogant AND bad at your job, the only people who'll support you will be the Bush justice department.
Philip Wright wrote on September 24, 2007 12:59 PM:Yeah,
I ended my government service under such a person. I have to say that mine was also a woman though I worked with and for men who were similar. This woman did the same thing.
She would pick out folks, usually someone she thought was vulnerable, and would move their office around. With no warning they would come in and find that the custodial staff were moving their desk down the hall. Sometines they would be moved into other departments for a few weeks, then back.
One mistake that is funny in hindsight is that she fired a secretary, without consultation with those of us in management, despite her having seniority as well as brains and skills. Turns out she was the only one who knew how to use the software that turned out a primary report for the agency.
Fortunately I had the years in to retire. Went to the Board, then resigned. She lasted another six months.
chard wrote on September 24, 2007 1:40 PM:"mishandled classified information, retaliated against those who crossed her, and made racist remarks about a support staff employee,"
OK. I thought these were qualities that recommended one to serve in the current admin.
anon wrote on September 24, 2007 1:41 PM:I worked for someone like her. A chief engineer on a ship. I was the entry level guy in the engine room. He came back one night drunk and was jamming his finger into my chest. Told me he told the higher ups in the company that "you would be a sucess where ever you go". This after 6 grueling months of hate and discontent. Oh the terrible things that guy did to me. The unreasonable work requests such as laying in a 4 inch pool of spilled motor oil to wipe it up when it could have been pumped out. I told him that night not to do many any more favors. I should have kicked his ass but I had a career to protect.
Joseph Wilson wrote on September 24, 2007 2:11 PM:What kind of experience makes a 34-year-old qualified to be a US attorney? Isn't that a job for people with much legal experience. Missing from the Washington Post story is her work for a law firm serving as general counsel for United Healthcare, located in suburban Minneapolis. William McGuire, the former CEO and major Republican contributor, had to resign last December for the backdating of stock options. No indictments have come out of that case, which won a Pulitzer Prize for The Wall Street Journal. McGuire made over a billion dollars as CEO. It looks justice is only for the little people.
Alguien wrote on September 24, 2007 2:21 PM:To: Joseph Wilson 2:11 PM.
Michael Powe wrote on September 24, 2007 5:49 PM:You got that right!
JUSTICE and TAXES are only for the little people.
Leona Helmsley figured it out pretty early!
It does seem odd, doesn't it, that she "merits" two "remedial" sessions, whereas the now infamous eight fired attorneys didn't even merit a truthful review of their firings?
Downright weird.
Thanks.
mp
dk in the la wrote on September 25, 2007 12:49 AM:misspelled "Paulose" in first sentence, although Pa'louse' is maybe more descriptive.
Writergrl22 wrote on September 25, 2007 11:36 AM:Brighid wrote on September 24, 2007 12:24 PM:
I can't wait for the perp walk!
Perp walk for a Bushie loyalist? Ya gotta be kidding...