Fewer applying for U.S. attorney posts

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration’s decision to fire nine U.S. attorneys last year has created a new problem for the White House: The controversy appears to be discouraging applications for some of the 22 prosecutor posts that President Bush needs to fill.

Of the nation’s 93 U.S. attorneys, 22 are serving without Senate confirmation as interim or acting prosecutors.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the administration is committed to nominating candidates for all 22 open positions, but so far the administration has submitted only four nominees.

In Florida, the panel that’s evaluating candidates and making recommendations to the White House has received only two applicants for the vacancy left by U.S. Attorney Paul Perez in Tampa – even after it extended the May 3 deadline to apply. Perez, who resigned in March, left for a private-sector job. He’s said that he wasn’t forced out.

“I personally was disappointed we didn’t have more,” said Michael J. Grindstaff, the chairman of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. “I was wondering if there was a way to attract more applicants.”

Some other states where Congress is investigating prosecutors’ ousters also have gotten fewer responses than the administration hoped for.

Fratto said that with only a year and a half left in Bush’s presidency, it’s no surprise that fewer candidates might seek a job they’d likely lose when the next president takes over.

“It has nothing to do with recent events,” Fratto said. “The closer you get toward the end of the second term, you’re going to have fewer people.” He also said the administration continues to attract “really, really talented people for top jobs.”

David Iglesias, the ousted New Mexico U.S. attorney, said that timing may be a contributing factor, but that the administration is in denial if it doesn’t believe there are concerns about low office morale, the ability to remain independent or even the odds of being confirmed by a suspicious Senate controlled by the Democrats.

“The Justice Department is embattled, and people aren’t readily applying to be U.S. attorneys because of this dark cloud,” Iglesias said. “Given the incredible scrutiny by the Senate, you’re not guaranteed being confirmed anymore. They’re going to start looking at every U.S. attorney for the rest of this administration to make sure that person wasn’t put in for purely political reasons.”