O'Connor steps into a tempest

4/17/07
As the top federal prosecutor in Connecticut, Kevin J. O’Connor has made official corruption his top target. His list of successfully prosecuted politicians is littered with big names, including former Gov. John G. Rowland, former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim and former state Sen. Ernest E. Newton II, also of Bridgeport. As he tackles new responsibilities in Washington, he must maintain his office’s vigilance in keeping state leaders honest.
O’Connor was tapped by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to serve as his chief of staff; he officially takes the position next week.
While dual job positions certainly are not advisable, it’s a great opportunity for a successful prosecutor. However, O’Connor is stepping into a Justice Department in turmoil.
Gonzales is facing withering scrutiny over his role in the dismissal of eight federal prosecutors around the country in the aftermath of the 2006 elections. Evidence produced thus far indicates the fired prosecutors did not have poor performance records, but rather would not tailor their work to meet political objectives. If proven, it is a shocking abuse of the judiciary.
U.S. attorneys are federal appointees, and the president has the right to bring in his own people at the start of his term and dismiss them at his discretion. But if it is proved — and evidence is piling up by the day — that some U.S. attorneys were forced out for targeting Republicans and others for not targeting enough Democrats, then this is a much bigger scandal than it has thus far appeared.
These are political appointments, but they serve the law, not a political party. Add in growing indications that the White House was directly involved, and this has all the makings of a major embarrassment.
This is the situation into which O’Connor is stepping. Calls for Gonzales’ resignation are ringing from all sides of the political spectrum, and were he not a longtime confidante of President Bush, he would likely be gone already. O’Connor will have his hands full trying to manage and implement the department’s policy initiatives and keeping the Connecticut office going, all while a major Washington scandal swirls around him.
It’s a lot to ask, and it could be a rough few months for him. It is hoped he knows what he’s getting into.