Long before the public was familiar with Kyle Sampson and his role in the firing of U.S. Attorneys Ryan, Lam, Charlton, Cummins, Iglesias, McKay, Bogden or Chiara by the Alberto Gonzales' Justice Department, his name appeared in the shakeup that brewed thousands of miles away in the Territory of Guam. In light of what has surfaced with the recent U.S. Attorney firings, was the Bush administration testing the waters on that tiny island four years ago? Was it pushing the envelope to see just how far it could go injecting politics into the U.S. justice system?

ePluribus Media's Journal article, Pair-a-dice...Guam's DOJ Gamble, the ante in the U.S. Attorneys firings, looks at the role Kyle Sampson and the Department of Justice played in the removal of US Attorney Frederick Black in Guam.

ePluribus Media has been covering the US Attorney story since January 2007, resulting in several articles on the individual "fired" or "resigned" attorneys, as well as some of the U.S. Attorneys who make up the Gonzales 85 -- those U.S. Attorneys who seem to be poster children for Bush Loyalty. One of these stories,

The Case of the Absentee Attorney looks at US Attorney and Acting Associate Attorney General, William Mercer. Although never confirmed by the U.S. Senate, William W. Mercer serves as the third highest-ranking official in the Justice Department, and a member of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' inner circle. He has helped to formulate crucial Department of Justice Policies regarding expansion of federal powers, and his name has surfaced in connection with the firing of eight US Attorneys.

He also serves as the US Attorney for the district of Montana.

How is it possible that William Mercer is charged with the task of overseeing himself? How does he do it despite having not been confirmed as Associate Attorney General? Is this a conflict of interest; are there others? And, as Acting Associate Attorney General, what policies has he pushed on an unsuspecting public?

Notably, Mercer has served the public sans Senate Confirmation before.

Two new stories on the ePluribus Journal --

• Pair-a-dice...Guam's DOJ Gamble, the ante in the U.S. Attorneys firings
• The Case of the Absentee Attorney

and one on the Community --

• The MES (Mercer, Elston and Sampson) at the DOJ.

  look at the roles of the lesser known, but powerful players, Mercer, Elston and Sampson.

  
  
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