The U.S. Attorneygate E-Mails

Although the White House and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales initially denied political pressure was applied in the wholesale dismissal of eight U.S. Attorneys, e-mails released by the Justice Department to Congress March 13 (below and on the following nine pages) indicate that Harriet Miers, former White House counsel, initiated removal discussions more than a year ago with Gonzales' chief of staff, D. Kyle Sampson, who resigned when the e-mails were made public.

The correspondence pays particular attention to the removal of U.S. attorney Harry E. "Bud" Cummins from the eastern district of Arkansas, and his replacement by Tim Griffin, former assistant to White House political director Karl Rove. Note Griffin's deep concern (Page 10) that his ousted predecessor might leave before Griffin has a chance to take his holiday in St. John.

A memo attached to one e-mail from Sampson to Miers (Page 6) makes reference to an anticipated "green light" from Miers after she "circulate[s] it to Karl's shop." The memo choreographs a step-by-step dance to remove the prosecutors (Pages 7, 8, and 9).

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