Emails Show Rove Knee-Deep in Attorney Firings

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 30, 2009 2:26 PM CDT

(Newser) – Karl Rove was intimately involved in the firing of at least three of the US Attorneys sacked for purportedly political reasons during the Bush administration, emails obtained by the Washington Post show. One note mentions a senator who “asked that we remove the US Atty” and “couldn’t be more serious about this request.” Though Rove says, “I’m not even sure I was still there”—he was—the attorney was fired.

“Yes, I was a recipient of complaints, and I passed them on to the counsel’s office to be passed onto Justice,” Rove tells the Post. He says those from state officials “had the sound of authenticity to me.” Adds the ex-Bush aide: “This is not at the top of my agenda. I don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘What must I do today to advance the case of the US attorneys?’ I’ve got a few things on my plate.”

[Images (4)]

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Karl Rove. (AP Photo)

White House Counsel Harriet Miers was also deeply involved in the firings. (AP Photo)

Former President George W. Bush and his then-Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove in 2005. (AP Photo)

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Sara, Karl asked me to forward you a list of locations where we may consider replacing the USAs... - Email from White House counsel Harriet Miers to Rove deputy Sara Taylor

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COMMENTS

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freethemall

Jul 31, 2009 10:48 AM CDT

The reason Thomas Jefferson advocated limited government, is because, in his day, government was disposed to further the interest of the privileged elite. It's (by and large) the other way around, nowadays.

jaguarj

Jul 31, 2009 6:23 AM CDT

CK..who is "we"..and you wouldn't know the truth if it hit you square in the.........

Reader65069154

Jul 31, 2009 5:13 AM CDT

serve at the pleasure of the president

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Politics • Crime & Courts

Bush administration • Department of Justice • Karl Rove • email • Congressional hearings • Harriet Miers • US attorney firings

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