After just 20 months, Rachel K. Paulose, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, is leaving her post to return to the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Paulose, 34, was appointed to the job after the departure of Tom Heffelfinger, who was the head of DOJ's Native American Issues Subcommittee. Although he resigned at his own will, testimony in Congress showed that political appointees in DC wanted to fire Heffelfinger because he spent "too much time" on Indian issues.
Palouse, a young, conservative and Christian Republican, was one of several DC insiders who replaced several fired federal prosecutors, many of whom were prominent on Indian issues.
The Justice Department's Office of Special Counsel is currently investigating Palouse for allegedly mishandling classified material and for alleged racist statements. Her subordinates have criticized her management of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"I do believe that Rachel's departure is good news for the U.S. attorney's office. Her tenure has been marked with significant internal problems, which were undermining morale," Heffelfinger told The Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Get the Story:U.S. Attorney for Minnesota to Leave Post (The Washington Post 11/20)
pwpwd
Amid Turmoil, U.S. Attorney Will Shift to Headquarters (The New York Times 11/20)
pwnyt
Minnesota’s embattled U.S. attorney steps down (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/20)
pwlat Related Stories:
Senate confirms Mukasey for Justice Department (11/9)
Senate panel approves Justice Department pick (11/7)
Senate Democrats to press Bush on Justice issues (9/18)
Bush said to pick ex-judge for Attorney General (9/17)
Democrats warn Bush on Attorney General pick (9/13)
Bush set to name new Attorney General nominee (9/12)
Bush expected to nominate new Attorney General (9/10)
Death penalty upheld by appeals court (9/6)
Heffelfinger: Gonzales was open to Indian issues (8/28)
Gonzales resigns as head of Department of Justice (8/27)
Gonzales cites commitment to Indian Country (08/15)
Fired U.S. Attorney overruled on death penalty (6/28)
DOJ denies US Attorneys were fired for Indian work (6/22)
Gonzales under investigation for meeting with aide (6/15)
Gonzales not committed to Indian Country (6/13)
No-confidence vote against Gonzales blocked (6/12)
Editorial: DOJ firing squad targets Indian Country (6/8)
Top DOJ aide denies Native voting claims (6/6)
DOJ cut off Indian voting rights probe in Minnesota (5/31)
White Earth chairwoman seeks ouster of Gonzales (5/30)
NCAI concerned about DOJ's commitment to tribes (5/29)
Heffelfinger supports probe into 'broken' DOJ (5/25)
Ex-DOJ aide cites 'concern' about Indian focus (5/24)
Fired U.S. Attorney of New Mexico has Native roots (5/22)
Sen. Tester calls on U.S. Attorney to resign (05/03)
U.S. Attorney in Montana protected by Patriot Act (5/2)
Heffelfinger was a target in U.S. Attorney purge (4/27)
Sen. Coburn tells Gonzales to resign over firings (4/20)
Attorney firings reviewed at Senate hearing (4/20)
Senate panel moves Gonzales testimony to Thursday (4/17)
House committee hits Gonzales with first subpoena (4/11)
Indian Country crime an issue in US Attorney firing (4/2)
Opinion: Fired U.S. Attorney helped Michigan tribes (3/30)
Documents shed light on US Attorney firings (3/20)
E-mails shed new details on US Attorney for Arizona (3/14)
Sen. Domenici hires law firm over US Attorney flap (3/8)
Ousted US Attorneys to testify before House panel (3/2)
Ousted US Attorney cites Republican pressure (3/1)
US Attorney ousted over tribal death penalty cases (2/19)
Hopi woman passed over for interim US Attorney (2/1)
Hopi woman touted as next US Attorney for Arizona (1/29)
Mother Jones: Navajo Nation debates death penalty (1/18)
Bush urged to nominate Hopi woman for U.S. Attorney (01/05)
Heffelfinger: Tribes need homeland security funds (6/9)
Indian gaming law proposal undergoes big changes (02/28)
Tom Heffelfinger to step down as U.S. Attorney (02/15)
Tribal leaders attend meeting on Red Lake shootings (02/01)
Red Lake families meet in private with Heffelfinger (01/31)
California tribes spar over gaming machine distinctions (01/24)
Louis Jourdain sentenced to juvenile rehabilitation (01/17)
Gaming proposal moving forward despite opposition (01/16)
Judge won't allow access to Jourdain sentencing (12/19)
IGRA amendments tough on many, especially tribes (12/12)
Judge to decide on access to Jourdain sentencing (12/02)
Red Lake shootings case not over despite plea (12/01)
McCain proposes major amendments to IGRA (11/30)
Louis Jourdain pleads guilty to one charge (11/30)
DOJ releases proposed changes to Indian gaming law (10/06)
DOJ proposes major change in Indian gaming law (09/16)
Heffelfinger praises actions in Red Lake shooting (08/24)
Senate panel supports NIGC on Class II rules (04/29)
Federal prosecutor seeks to change 'national shame' (04/19)
