Meltdown at U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis

By Scott Horton

One of the less reported aspects of Purgegate was the appointment of 33-year-old Rachel Paulose as the new U.S. attorney in Minneapolis. Paulose is a Federalist Society member who formerly served as an aide to Alberto Gonzales and his deputy Paul J. McNulty and who fits the mold of the highly ideological political activist common to most of the appointments. Her installation ceremony last month was a lavish affair dubbed a "coronation" in the local media, which also reported that concern about her was already running high among the career Justice employees. Paulose is described as a person more prone to spout Bible quotes than the law, and to have an abrasive if not dictatorial style in dealing with her staff.

"They did it jointly because they couldn't stand her anymore," the source said, citing what been described as her "dictatorial management style and general lack of management experience."

Paulose replaced former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger, who resigned in February 2006. At 34, she's the youngest current U.S. attorney. She's also the first woman to hold the post in Minnesota.

The move might have come from a disagreement in the direction of the office, but is also "indicative of how the U.S. Department of Justice is acting now," another source said.

"These are career prosecutors who wouldn't do it without a reasonable basis," the source said. "If these folks took this action en masse and all of them are well respected career prosecutors, they wouldn't do so lightly."

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the resignations occurred notwithstanding a visit to the office from a representative of the Executive Office of the U.S. Attorney in Washington, who attempted to quell the rebellion.

Joshua Micah Marshall has a round-up of the available press accounts.