Did the US Justice Department under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales illegally consider political affiliation or affiliation by proxy in hiring career Justice Department employees?
Yes, according to reports released by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General.
Duh! Yah think?
Comment by CdACanuck — July 30, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
We pretty much expect elected officials to diddle with non-career appointees like ambassadors, agency heads, etc. Those yo-yo’s come and go with changes of administration, tabloid scandals, and grand jury indictments. The career employees, though, are the ones who are really in a position to keep an agency going or damage it badly. They provide the continuity. If their positions are overtly politicized, and particularly if they are driven out because of perceived or misperceived political loyalty, the quality of the agency’s service suffers.
Comment by Bill — July 30, 2008 @ 5:58 pm