Tucson Citizen
Our Opinion: A shameful look inside the Gonzales Justice Dept.
Published: 07.07.2007
The politically tinged firings of nine U.S. prosecutors last year has taken on a much more troubling tone with recent testimony from the fired U.S. attorney for Arizona.
Testimony indicates that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was cavalier in seeking the death penalty, even when the prosecutor most familiar with the case said that the chance of executing the wrong man was "too high."
It is perhaps the most serious accusation made about the Bush administration's blunt-force efforts to politicize the Justice Department.
It is akin to the prosecutorial meddling that got a state's attorney fired in North Carolina over the Duke University lacrosse team rape case.
And thus, Gonzales should be fired.
In late June, Paul Charlton testified before a Senate subcommittee reviewing use of the federal death penalty.
Charlton was fired last year as U.S. attorney for Arizona, allegedly for performance-related issues. It later was revealed that he and eight peers were fired for political disputes with the Bush administration.
Details of why Charlton was fired are chilling, given the authority that is vested in a federal prosecutor.
Charlton testified that he clashed with Gonzales over a case in which a methamphetamine dealer was accused of killing his drug supplier.
Gonzales ordered the death penalty be sought over Charlton's repeated objections. Charlton felt that evidence, including that no body was found, didn't support the death penalty.
Charlton pressed his objection and was told by an aide to the attorney general that Gonzales had spent a significant amount of time on the issue, "perhaps as much as 5 to 10 minutes," and would not back down.
Charlton asked to speak directly with Gonzales. That led one Gonzales aide to send an e-mail to another, writing, "In the 'you won't believe this category,' Paul Charlton would like a few minutes of the AG's time."
It is disturbing that Gonzales was unwilling to discuss a case in which he wanted a man executed. Charlton's principled stand cost him his job.
The State Bar of Arizona recently honored Charlton for representing the public's interest with integrity, fairness and professionalism.
Gonzales and top members of his staff exhibit none of those traits.
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