The Associated Press picked up the story of Bill Mercer and the troubles at Justice. A Justice Department spokesperson says that Mercer didn't actually oversee the U.S. Attorneys and that any conversations he had with the booted ones was to offer sympathy:Mercer does not oversee U.S. attorney matters and was in Montana while some decisions were being made, Roehrkasse said. As for Mercer's conversations with the attorneys, Roehrkasse said, he was just being supportive.
"Because he did not supervise the U.S. attorneys, he had no basis to discuss with them their specific reasons for their dismissal, and he focused on being sympathetic," Roehrkasse said. Let's just remember, as the AP notes in this story, that two former U.S. Attorneys told Congress that Mercer did discuss reasons for dismissal and specifically told them that they were being removed to open up seats for young Republicans to pad their resumes.
Now, I suppose it is possible that these U.S. Attorneys committed a felony and lied to Congress, but I have a tough time buying that, absent any real evidence.
Fortunately, all three of our members of Congress are keeping their eyes open for law-breaking.
Here's my guess -- if Gonzales fall, as seems likely, the odds of Mercer being confirmed as #3 at Justice become very slim. Even if Gonzales doesn't leave the AG office, Mercer remains another potential fall guy for having "inappropriate" conversations.
And if he is refused Senate appointment to the #3 spot, how likely is he to stay in his current role?
A Senate denial over a hiring scandal is probably going to be a pretty big black mark over Mercer's career. If it happens, he might as well cash in and head to the private sector. |
