So, a lot has been made of the fact that fired, disgruntled former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias’ was the inspiration for Tom Cruise’s character in a Few Good Men. However, based on Mr. Iglesias’ side-splitting analysis of the testimony of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, I’m guessing Hollywood took a lot of liberties in creating that character. Seriously, you’ve got to read this:
David Iglesias, the former New Mexico U.S. attorney and one of the eight fired last year, said investigating the White House’s role is the logical next step — one that would follow existing clues about Rove’s involvement.
“If I were Congress, I would say, ‘If the attorney general doesn’t have answers, then who would?’ There’s enough evidence to indicate that Karl Rove was involved up to his eyeballs.”
Iglesias said another clue that the White House may have been the driving force is the relative lack of Justice Department documentation for the firings in the 6,000 pages of documents turned over to Congress.
“If you want to justify getting rid of someone, you should have at least some paper trail,” Iglesias said. “There’s been a remarkable absence of that. I’m wondering if the paper trail is at the White House.”
Whoa, didn’t Mr. Iglesias read the fine print in his political appointment? You know, the part the explained the political appointment made by the president that allowed him to serve as U.S. Attorney at the pleasure of the president. Maybe he should hire himself a good employment lawyer who could explain to him exactly what all that legal mumbo jumbo means.
Obviously, Mr. Iglesias is finding it all very confusing. He is having a tremendously difficult time understanding that whole “at-will” component. Mr. Iglesias just can’t seem to comprehend that no paper trail was required to fire him. Then again, maybe he just thought that whole U.S. Attorney appointment was like an appointment to the Supreme Court – one of those lifetime gigs.
One more thing… I fail to see what it matters if the White House was involved. I would expect the White House to be involved. How else could someone who serves at the pleasure of the president be terminated? I’d be concerned if the White House was not involved. So forget this whole “paper trail is at the White House nonsense.”
Speaking of paper trails, I’m wondering how that FOIA request is progressing?