Top aide to U.S. attorney general resigns over prosecutor firings



www.chinaview.cn 2007-03-14 05:58:48

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·Justice Department confirmed the resignation of Kyle Sampson.
·He may be called to testify on the issue of the firings of eight U.S. attorneys.
·Democrats have likened the dismissals to a political purge.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The top aide to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned Tuesday amid revelations that White House staff initiated the decision to fire federal prosecutors.

A statement from the Justice Department confirmed the resignation of Kyle Sampson, who was Gonzales's chief of staff.

Sampson may be called to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue of the firings of eight U.S. attorneys.

Democrats have likened the dismissals to a political purge and even called for the resignation of Gonzales himself.

"U.S. attorneys have always been above politics, and this administration has blatantly manipulated the U.S. attorney system to serve its political needs," said Senator Charles Schumer, No. 3Democrat in the Senate.

He said Sampson's departure "does not take the heat off the attorney general. In fact, it raises the temperature."

Sampson is the first high-level official to lose his job over the firings.

U.S. media reported earlier Tuesday that two years ago, the White House had suggested that the Justice Department fire all of the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys, but the latter only dismissed 8 prosecutors.

Some fired prosecutors told Congress earlier this month that they had been pressured by Republican lawmakers over voter fraud and public corruption investigations they were pursuing.

This enraged Democrats, who are demanding explanations from the Bush administration.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007- ... 842816.htm