Posted by Teh Nutroots | The lawyer herself---known for reticence about her private life--- is keeping quiet, but the DoJ's inspector general is investigating whether one of the country's top prosecutors was let go because of rumors that she was a lesbian. I apologize for the pop culture reference but come on, you know someone's got to say it. As a (former) Law and Order fan, I--and everyone else who remembers the episode--- will obviously have thought of the "Serena Southerlyn" character's out-of-left-field exit line ("Is it because I'm a lesbian?") upon being fired by Fred Thompson's character a few years ago. But whereas Fred Thompson's character "Branch" fired Rohm's character for being too lenient to be a prosecutor, Leslie Hagen's record reflects that her performance was exemplary.
Hagen received the highest possible ratings for her work as liaison between the Justice Department and the U.S. attorneys' committee on Native American issues. Her final job evaluation lists five categories for supervisors to rank her performance. For each category, a neat X fills the box marked, "Outstanding." And at the bottom of the page, under "overall rating level," she also got the top mark: Outstanding....The form is dated February 1, 2007. Several months before that evaluation, Hagen was told her contract would not be renewed.. (NPR)
She herself would not comment. But those interviewed raved about her work.
A dozen former colleagues, inside and outside of the Justice Department, were interviewed for this story. They worked above, below and side by side with Hagen.
Each one raved about her work.
Sarah Brubaker, a tribal prosecutor in Michigan, said Hagen was "at the very top of any of the prosecutors I've ever worked with." Brubaker said it's very difficult "to find someone of her caliber, who is not only an excellent prosecutor, but also easy to work with — personable, professional."
A former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Tom Heffelfinger, recruited Hagen in October 2005 to come to Washington from Michigan, where she won awards for her work as a federal prosecutor.
"I felt at the time she was the best qualified person in the nation to fill that job," says Heffelfinger. "I was never consulted about her performance as liaison to the Native American Issues Committee, and I never heard any criticism of her performance from any other component within the department."(NPR)
Hagen's job is one that comes up for renewal every year. The DoJ says that the job is a privilege which they wish as many people as possible to enjoy; hence they rotate people through the department every year. Apparently her supervisors wanted to keep her, but the Attorney General's office sent word that she had to move on.(NPR) Oddly, while she was rotated out, two other's in her department had their privileges renewed---and her office was vacant for months afterward. (NPR) Huh.
Monica Goodling---remember her? If you don't; my co-blogger will be happy to remind you---Goodling removed Hagen's duties relating to child exploitation and abuse.(NPR) We all remember Goodling's concession that she sometimes "crossed the line" in making personnel decisions. ""I crossed the line of the civil service rules," Goodling told Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) at a congressional hearing in May 2007."(NPR)
But, come on, would Goodling have cared about an exemplary employee's sexual orientation? Even Jack McCoy didn't care---or so I inferred---he just was tired of arguing with Rohm's character all the time. "No!" he said, with genuine surprise. But apparently during the reign of Gonzo her sexual orientation could indeed be an issue.
As one Republican source put it, "To some people, that's even worse than being a Democrat."
Several people interviewed by the inspector general's staff said investigators asked whether people drew a connection between the rumors and Hagen's dismissal. The witnesses, who spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity, said they felt that the rumors led to the decision not to renew Hagen's contract.
Someone who worked in Hagen's office says that in a 2006 meeting, senior officials were told that Hagen's contract would not be renewed because someone on the attorney general's staff had a problem with Hagen. The problem, it was suggested during the conversation, was sexual orientation — or what was rumored to be Hagen's sexual orientation.
One person at the meeting asked, "Is that really an issue?" But the decision had been made.(NPR)
As The Carpetbagger Report reminds us, Gonzo 'Justice for Just Us' and his minions made it their business to find out all sorts of personal details about civil service employees:
About a year ago, we learned in jaw-dropping detail about the questions asked of those seeking employment at Bush’s Justice Department. Thanks to Alberto Gonzales and Monica Goodling — remember them? — job applicants for civil service jobs were quizzed with all kind of personal questions that the DoJ couldn’t legally ask. This went well beyond just isolating registered Democrats as inherently untrustworthy — though Goodling did that, too — and included one applicant being asked, “Have you ever cheated on your wife?”...
I realize it’s foolish of me to be surprised by anything the Bush administration does, but Hagen’s case is rather extraordinary. Respected lawyer, impeccable credentials Republican loyalist, outstanding performance evaluations — everything the Bush gang could hope for. But then the graduate of Pat Robertson’s college heard Hagen might be gay, and despite the requests of Hagen’s supervisors, Hagen was gone. (CR)
Pam's House Blend has more.
Memeorandum has commentary here.
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Blistering Attack on the Department of Justice by Veteran U.S. Attorney.
Did DoJ Official Lie to Congress re: U.S. Attorneys?
Update: Fired U.S. Attorney Scandal
A Sixth DoJ Official Jumps Ship Amid Scandal
Yesterday's McNulty Hearing re: Justice Department Politics
Another DoJ Official Jumps Ship Amid Scandal
Another Ex-Justice Official Doesn't Recall
Fired U.S. Attorney McKay Speaks Out
DoJ's Schlozman Alters Testimony and Looks for Loophole
Todd Graves' Testimony: His Memory Worked
Schlozman Testimony: An "I Don't Recall" Avalanche
Testimony Today re: Justice Department Politics
Another U.S. Attorney Targeted for Political Reasons?
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