Chickens Come Home to Roost - Yes!

thanks for the update ... so many times we never know the final outcome of these stories, but you always seem to find these little gems.

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ePMedia ... get the scoop with us!
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. ~ George Carlin

Good Roosts: In our work on Charlton, there have been several connected stories with chickens coming home to roost (see Iglesias!).

But in our Fired U.S. Attorney profiles, we wrote:

January 31st was U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton's last day. Like others of the Gonzales Seven, his departure was forced. Arizona Republican Senators McCain and Kyl had submitted Diane Humetewa, a member of the Hopi Indian Tribe and currently senior litigation counsel and tribal liaison for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix, to the President as the replacement for Charlton. She's not been appointed, however, which left the Arizona district without a leader in charge of the 253 staff and Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) in four offices. The Associated Press reports:

So far President Bush hasn't made a nomination, so the Justice Department announced today that Daniel Knauss will serve as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona.

Though they took their time (maybe because of too much heat?) Humetewa was appointed in November, 11 months after Charlton resigned and she had been nominated.)

Bad Roosts: There's also all the Renzi stuff... and he is in jail now? Right? Don't have time to track those pieces down now.

WoooHoooo...this is a good read!
Justice Official Pleads Guilty in Abramoff Case
excerpt:

Coughlin, 36, admitted that he leaked inside Justice Department information, attended meetings and contacted officials as part of his efforts to help Abramoff, his firm, Greenberg Traurig and in particularly one of Abramoff's key lobbying colleagues, Kevin A. Ring. Coughlin and Ring are longtime friends who worked together on Capitol Hill a decade ago, court records filed today said.

Coughlin entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle in Washington. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His attorneys said they planned to ask for a sentence of less than six months, while prosecutors under the plea agreement could seek a term of up to 10 months and a $10,000 fine. The agreement indicated that Coughlin has promised to cooperate with the federal investigation. Coughlin said in court he has already met with federal investigators. No sentencing date was set but a status hearing was scheduled for September.