From: Kevin Bondelli, AZ Dem Party
To: Vivian
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 6:51 PM
Subject: FYI: AZ Dems Call for U.S. Senate Investigation in Replacement for Charlton
Earlier today the Arizona Democratic Party sent the following release to statewide media outlets about the controversial purging of Arizona United States Attorney Paul Charlton. Below you will find the release and the text of the letter Chairman David Waid sent to Senators Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter.
March 20, 2007
AZ DEMS CALL FOR U.S. SENATE INVESTIGATION INTO REPLACEMENT FOR CHARLTON
Letter sent to Democratic and Republican Senators to ensure that next U.S. Attorney didn't strike a deal to get nomination
The Arizona Democratic Party has written a letter today to Senators Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter calling on the head of the Judiciary Committee to ensure that nominees for the replacement of Arizona U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton will fairly pursue the investigation into Congressmen Rick Renzi that was left open with Charlton's dismissal. The Party further encourages the Senators to investigate whether Arizona nominee Diane Humetewa or interim United States Attorneys, such as Daniel Knauss, have made any deals with the White House or Department of Justice to stifle inquiries into Congressional misconduct.
Recently subpoenaed White House emails have uncovered evidence that Arizona U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton was placed on the White House's now infamous "black list" soon after initiating the investigation into Renzi's alleged corruption. Charlton was dismissed by the administration soon after, in what is now a highly controversial purging of 9 U.S. Attorneys last December. Several of the dismissed prosecutors were initiating and pursuing investigations into Republican congressmen directly before they were marked for "pushing out."
See: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0314usattorneys0314.html;
For a full copy of the letter, go to: http://www.azdem.org/page/-/downloads/Charlton%20Letter.pdf
March 20, 2007
Dear Senators Leahy and Specter:
It has recently come to light that Paul Charlton, the United States Attorney for the district of Arizona opened an investigation into the Congressman Richard Renzi directly before he was asked to leave office. Through subpoenaed White House emails, we have learned that our US Attorney was placed on the White House's now infamous "black list" soon after initiating the investigation into Renzi's alleged corruption.
The investigation into allegations of bribery and vote-selling by Congressman Renzi has since remained out of the public eye and no progress has been reported. The investigation raises deeply disturbing questions about behavior that is potentially criminal and which absolutely undermines the confidence of Arizonans in their federal government.
It is essential that these allegations continue to be investigated fairly and thoroughly. Because of the circumstances surrounding Charlton's removal, it becomes even more imperative that the American people receive reassurance that Charlton's replacement will continue where the prosecutor left off.
The timing of Charlton's firing, in the context of the larger pattern that has emerged in the removal of eight other US Attorneys, is enough to make any thinking American question whether the Constitutional authorities of the President are being used to cover up criminal activity and avoid prosecutions. If so, it represents an ethically abhorrent abuse of power and calls the integrity of many high-ranking officials into question.
I urge you to review the actions of the White House and Department of Justice and to closely question Arizona nominee, Diane Humetewa. In particular, our nation needs to know if Interim United States Attorneys, such as Daniel Knauss in Arizona, have agreed to kill investigations into Republican Congressmen in return for an appointment as US Attorney. Our federal prosecutors were never meant to serve as the personal attorneys for the President, but as lawyers for the people and principle enforcers of the Constitution of the United States.
Finally, it is also clear now that Senator Jon Kyl, a member of your Committee was given early notice by the Justice Department of the effort to derail the Renzi investigation by firing Charlton. Yet, he did nothing.
I urge you to require Senator Kyl to confirm whether he is aware of any agreements that Knauss and/or Humetewa are now beholden to with regard to the Renzi investigation. He should recuse himself from any further involvement in the US Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona and any and all decisions involving the nomination and confirmation of anyone to head that office.
I appreciate your continued work to ensure the integrity of the nomination process of our federal prosecutors and look forward to the results of your inquiry.
Sincerely,
David Waid
Chairman
by Vivian Pettyjohn on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 09:34:02 PM EST
