Dept. of Justice Applicants Were Discriminated Against For Politically Views

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-justice-politics,1,414400.story An internal investigation released Monday shows that applicants for career non-political appointments in the Department of Justice were routinely discriminated against for not being Republicans or "conservative enough". Here's an excerpt from the linked article: " Former Justice Department officials broke the law by letting Bush administration politics dictate the hiring of prosecutors, immigration judges and other career government lawyers, according to an internal investigation released Monday. For nearly two years, top advisers to then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales discriminated against applicants for career jobs who weren't Republican or conservative loyalists, the Justice report found. At times, their search for GOP activists delayed filling judgeships and threatened to clog immigration courts, the report said. The federal government makes a distinction between "career" and "political" appointees, and it's a violation of civil service laws and Justice Department policy to hire career employees on the basis of political affiliation or allegiance. Yet Monica Goodling, who served as Gonzales' counselor and White House liaison, routinely asked career job applicants about politics, the report concluded. "What is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?" Goodling asked at least some candidates, according to the joint investigation by Justice's Office of Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility. Others were asked about their views on abortion and gay marriage. "It appeared that these topics were discussed as a result of the question seeking information about how the applicant would characterize the type of conservative they were," the report said. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who succeeded Gonzales, said he was "of course disturbed" by the findings. He said he would make sure "that the conduct described in this report does not occur again at the department." Here's more: "The joint report largely focused on (Monica) Goodling's role in commandeering the hiring process between March 2005 and April 2007, when she resigned. In one instance, Justice investigators found, Goodling objected to hiring an assistant prosecutor in Washington because "judging from his resume, he appeared to be a liberal Democrat." In another, she rejected an experienced terror prosecutor to work on counterterror issues at a Justice Department headquarters office "because of his wife's political affiliations," the report said. It also said she rejected at least one job applicant who was rumored to be a lesbian. Goodling, a former Republican National Committee researcher with little experience as a prosecutor, admitted in House Judiciary Committee testimony last year that she "crossed the lines" while hiring Justice career employees. She received immunity for her testimony, meaning she cannot be prosecuted unless proven that she lied while under oath." Do you agree with me that if we can't depend on the Department of Justice to follow the law, who can we trust? Would you like to see Ms. Goodling return her law degree and license to practice law to the Cracker Jack company? Annie