Documents released Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee show that Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) “was upset with Bush administration officials” over the forced resignation of U.S. attorney Paul Charlton, but the Justice Department quickly hushed his dissent. “I understand that Kyl is significantly disturbed over the Charlton issue,” Rebecca Seidel, a deputy assistant attorney general, wrote in an e-mail. “I am hoping that Kyl would not bring it up in an open hearing.”
From Indianz.com in March 2007 article:
Paul Charlton adopted a policy not to prosecute marijuana cases of less than 500 pounds. But he said his office would always bring charges for drugs found on the Tohono O'odham Nation "because of our trust responsibility," one e-mail between political aides at the Department of Justice and the White House states.
Charlton also butted heads over other Indian issues. He refused to adopt a blanket death penalty policy for tribal cases and wanted the FBI to tape interviews and confessions with people accused of child abuse on reservations.
He was overruled at least twice on the death penalty, including a case involving a member of the Navajo Nation. None of the e-mails appear to refer to this case or the FBI tapings.
Charlton won praise from tribal leaders for his work in Indian Country. Nevertheless, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) was "fine" with his removal after being told about it by DOJ, another e-mail states.
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Kyl and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) subsequently recommended Diane Humetewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe, as U.S. Attorney. President Bush passed her over in naming an interim federal prosecutor.
Hmmm.. I wonder if Kyl was upset because Bush passed over the candidate that he wanted to replace Charlton or is it something else. Rest assured Senator Kyl could be a danger to Bush if starts to talk to the Senate committee or Congress.
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