Congressman Johnson Recognizes US Attorneys

Press Release

CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON RECOGNIZES U.S. ATTORNEYS

U.S. Representative Hank Johnson today introduced a Resolution considered a show of support for all United States Attorneys - particularly the recently dismissed David Iglesias, Daniel Bogden, Paul Charlton, Harry Cummins, III, Carol Lam, John McKay, Margaret Chiara, and Kevin Ryan.

"These public servants and other U.S. Attorneys are the chief Federal law enforcement officers in their districts and many were overseeing significant public corruption investigations at the time of their dismissal," said Rep. Johnson, an attorney and former judge. "While it is true that they serve at the pleasure of the President, they have enormous responsibility for implementing anti-terrorism efforts, bringing important and often difficult cases, and taking the lead in fighting public corruption. To abandon them this way is a national disgrace and a travesty."

Currently, there are 93 United States Attorneys stationed throughout the nation operating under the direction of the Attorney General.

"Traditionally U.S. Attorneys have operated with a great degree of independence from the Department of Justice in a non-political environment," Johnson explained. "Given the favorable performance evaluations cited for most of these individuals, their dismissals are suspect at best."

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