Eric Black at Minnesota Monitor offers us a detailed exploit into the adventures of “loyal Bushie” U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose in Minneapolis. As readers will recall from prior reports, the circumstances of the departure of Paulose’s predecessor are still unclear, but there is a building body of evidence that suggests he was ousted from his post because he failed to pursue a Rovian agenda with respect to voting rights matters in Minnesota—a traditional “battleground state” in presidential and congressional elections. Beyond this he was suspected of harboring too much concern for Native Americans.
Paulose, a close friend of Monica Goodling’s, was dispatched up to Minneapolis to turn this situation around. Her histrionics produced a meltdown in the office, with four key career lawyers resigning. Main Justice had to dispatch personnel to try to restore order in the office and attempt to smooth over the outrage provoked by Paulose.
That was three months ago. And now how have things progressed? It seems to have gone steadily downhill.
The federal Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations that Rachel Paulose, U.S. attorney for Minnesota, mishandled classified information, decided to fire the subordinate who called it to her attention, retaliated against others in the office who crossed her, and made racist remarks about one employee. Paulose did not return phone calls seeking her comment. Minnesota Monitor will publish any response that she makes.
The investigation has been under way since June. The Office of Special Counsel, which handles complaints about retaliation against whistleblowers and prohibited personnel practices by political appointees such as Paulose… appears to be taking the allegations seriously. Investigators from two of its regional offices have been to Minnesota to interview witnesses and may be back for more. I could not find out when the OSC, an independent executive branch agency that is not part of the Justice Department, might complete the investigation.
Black states that Paulose continues to have wretched relations with her staff. Most of the allegations against her have no political element to them, except for one relating to her badmouthing an attorney she believed to be a “liberal.” Other tales from the vigorous new working environment introduced by Paulose:
Paulose committed large and small acts of retaliation against others in the office whom she accused of disloyalty to her. In one instance, after changing the job assignment of one employee, Paulose allegedly said that she would make the woman so miserable that she would want to quit. In some instances, Paulose allegedly ordered those in charge of performing job evaluations to downgrade the reviews of those she considered disloyal, or turned down requests that they be allowed to perform work outside the office. The allegation is that Paulose took these actions against employees for reasons other than the quality of their work, but rather for offenses like advising her that some actions she was contemplating would exceed her legal authority.
Paulose allegedly denigrated one employee of the office, using the terms “fat,” “black,” “lazy” and “ass.”
A great demonstration of the effective management tools which are taking the Justice Department to new depths.
Update: The Minneapolis Star-Tribune confirms Black’s report and the particulars of the accusations against Paulose.
