Jim Letten (USDOJ)
Add Sen. Mary Landrieu to the list of senators frustrated with the administration’s ambling pace on U.S. Attorney nominations.
The Louisiana Democrat’s office is seeking clarification from the White House on U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s status, nearly a year after President Barack Obama took office and eight months after Landrieu announced she wanted to keep the Republican-appointed prosecutor in place, reports The New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Earlier this month, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) also complained – for a second time – about lack of action on the North Dakota U.S. Attorney post.
The Obama administration has nominated or confirmed 42 U.S. Attorneys. By comparison, George W. Bush had nominated more than 60 U.S. Attorneys and Bill Clinton more than 70 by this point in their administrations.
The White House told Landrieu aides that Letten’s position is safe, the Times-Picayune reported on its blog:
Recently, Landrieu aides said they were told by the White House that Letten’s job is secure and that it’s unnecessary for the president to renominate him or the Senate to confirm him because he already holds the position.
“Jim Letten continues to serve as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana without being re-nominated by the President,” Justice Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said in a statement to the newspaper.
In a blog posting, reporter Bruce Alpert said it was “unclear” what Schwartz meant and tried to provide an exegesis for readers.
“One possible explanation is that Landrieu staffers have been given misleading information and that the White House is considering replacing Letten,” Alpert wrote. Although Letten is a career prosecutor and not considered especially political, some Democrats in New Orleans are grumbling that “there are many qualified people not associated with the previous Republican administration who could do the job as effectively.”
The senator’s office said in a statement: ”Sen. Landrieu continues to stand behind Mr. Letten and is pleased that he continues to serve in the capacity of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District.”
[...] Landrieu hasn’t demanded a full appointment for Letten; the furthest she’s gone is to seek clarification on his status from the administration, and that hasn’t produced [...]
[...] Landrieu hasn’t demanded a full appointment for Letten; the furthest she’s gone is to seek clarification on his status from the administration, and that hasn’t produced [...]