Indian Country prosecutor ousted over gay rumor

Wednesday, April 9, 2008  

A well rated and highly praised Indian Country prosecutor was dismissed by a Department of Justice political appointee over rumors that the attorney was lesbian.

t Leslie Hagen used to work for DOJ's Subcommittee on Native American Issues. She received favorable performance reviews and former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger, who used to chair the subcommittee, called her "the best qualified person in the nation to fill that job."

"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," Heffelfinger, who stepped down in March 2006, told NPR.

But Monica Goodling, a former political appointee in Washington, D.C., apparently had concerns. She stripped Hagen of cases dealing with child exploitation and abuse before deciding not to renew Hagen's contract.

DOJ's Inspector General is now investigating whether Hagen's firing was linked to rumors about her sexual orientation. "To some people, that's even worse than being a Democrat," a Republican told NPR.

Goodling famously told a House committee that Heffelfinger was targeted for removal because he spent "too much time" on Indian issues. After he voluntarily stepped down, five U.S. Attorneys who had significant dealings with Indian Country were fired.

Get the Story:
Justice Dept. probes case of lesbian who was fired (The Washington Blade 4/8)
Justice Probes Lawyer's Dismissal Amid Gay Rumor (National Public Radio 4/8)

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