Remember Monica Goodling, the girl from Regent Law School who was given sweeping authority. The AP reports that:
The Justice Department is investigating whether its former White House liaison used political affiliation in deciding who to hire as entry-level prosecutors in U.S. attorneys' offices around the country, The Associated Press has learned.Over at TPMMuckracker there is a lot of speculation as to the meaning of the probe. One comment struck me as being worth a further look. According to commenter jlc
Doing so is a violation of federal law.
The inquiry involving Monica Goodling, the former counsel and White House liaison for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, raises new concerns that politics might have cast a shadow over the independence of trial prosecutors who enforce U.S. laws.
Title 5 USC Section 2302(c) states:He then suggests that "this would seem to make Alberto responsible for actions he delegated to Ms. Goodling." Any thoughts?
(c) The head of each agency shall be responsible for the prevention of prohibited personnel pratices, for the compliance with and enforcement of applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and other aspects of personnel management, and for ensuring (in consultation with the Office of Special Counsel) that agency employees are informed of the rights and remedies available to them under this chapter and chapter 12 of this title. Any individual to whom the head of an agency delegates authority for personnel management, or for any aspect thereof, shall be similarly responsible within the limits of the delegation.
