Two Department of Justice appointees broke federal law by making hiring decisions on political or ideological grounds, according to an investigation released today.

The report primarily focused on the actions of Monica Goodling, an aide to former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Goodling famously told a Congressional committee that former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger was targeted for firing because he spent "too much time" on Indian issues.

Goodling prevented Leslie Hagen, a well respected and highly rated assistant federal prosecutor, from working on Indian issues and tried to prevent her from working in areas that dealt with sex offenders and violence against women, according to the report. The reason was Hagen's alleged sexual orientation as well as Hagen's unsubstantiated relationship with former U.S. Attorney Margaret Chiara.

Chiara served as chair of DOJ's Native American Issues Subcommittee after Heffelfinger left of his own accord in early 2006. In December of that year, Chiara was fired by the Bush administration for unexplained reasons.

The report also looked at Kyle Sampson, another Gonzales aide. Prior to joining DOJ, he played a key role in the firing of former Special Trustee Tom Slonaker when he was an attorney at the White House.

Get the Story:
Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says (The Washington Post 7/28)
pwpwd

Get the Report:
An Investigation of Allegations of Politicized Hiring by Monica Goodling and Other Staff in the Office of the Attorney General (July 28, 2008)

Related Stories:
Report: DOJ broke law in hiring young attorneys (6/25)
Indian Country prosecutor ousted over gay rumor (4/9)