Tom Corbett (gov)

Four former U.S. Attorneys have filed to run for office in Pennsylvania. Tuesday marked the deadline for major party candidates to file with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s office. The primary elections to decide who will run in the November general elections will take place May 18.

Tom Corbett, who was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 and served until 1993, is one of two candidates vying for the Republican nomination for governor. Current Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) is term limited.

Corbett, who is the current state attorney general, will face state Rep. Sam Rohrer in the Republican primary. On the other side of the political aisle, four candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination: Montgomery County Commissioner and former U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, state auditor general and former state Sen. Jack Wagner and state Sen. Anthony Williams.

Several former U.S. Attorneys are running for Congress in Pennsylvania:

Mary Beth Buchanan (Steve Pope)

Mary Beth Buchanan, who served as the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney from 2001 until November 2009, is one of two candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the 4th Congressional District. She will face former Department of Homeland Security official Keith Rothfus in the Republican primary. Both candidates hope to challenge Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Patrick Meehan (doj)

In the 7th Congressional District, Pat Meehan, who led the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2008, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Three Democrats — attorney Gail Conner, state Rep. Bryan Lentz and political consultant E. Teresa Touey – are looking to win their party’s nomination. The candidates hope to replace Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak, who is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary.

Tom Marino (Tom Marino for Congress)

Finally, Tom Marino, who was the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 2002 to October 2007, is one of three Republicans looking to unseat Rep. Chris Carney (D), who is unopposed in the Democratic primary. The other two Republicans seeking the nomination are chiropractor and 2006 state Senate candidate David Madeira and Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk.

Mary Beth Buchanan (Steve Pope)

Two weeks into her official congressional campaign, former Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan is on the offensive, defending her actions as a federal prosecutor and threatening a lawsuit against a radio talk show host for repeating “flat-out wrong” information about a case she prosecuted.

Buchanan, who served as the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney from 2001 until November 2009, filed papers on Feb. 4 to seek the GOP nomination for the 4th District seat just north of Pittsburgh that is held by Democrat Jason Altmire. Buchanan and Keith Rothfus are seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Altimire. Rothfus is an attorney and former Department of Homeland Security official.

Cyril Wecht (CyrilWecht.com)

During “The Real Deal with Marty Griffin” on a Pittsburgh radio station on Thursday, host Griffin interviewed Cyril Wecht, Talking Points Memo reports. Wecht, who is a former Allegheny County medical examiner, was prosecuted by Buchanan for alleged corruption. Buchanan’s U.S. Attorney’s office dismissed all charges against the prominent Democratic defendant after a federal judge threw out evidence that he ruled was improperly obtained. Buchanan has received harsh criticism for her unsuccessful prosecution of Wecht, while Wecht’s supporters accused Buchanan of targeting him because of his politics.

Wecht during the radio interview said the case cost $20 million to prosecute. That figure did not sit well with Buchanan, who called into the radio show. After a polite introduction, the conversation very quickly turned curt.

Griffin: Just talked to Cyril Wecht live. On the phone now Mary Beth Buchanan. Good morning Mary Beth.

Buchanan: Good morning Marty.

Griffin: You heard Dr. Wecht. You heard his comments. Uh — (interrupted)

Buchanan: Yeah, you know what, listen Marty. Normally I don’t have the opportunity to listen to your show but this morning I happened to catch it and I’m calling in because you and Cyril were batting around what my qualifications are so I’m here to tell you what they are.

After talking about other issues for a while, the conversation turned confrontational.

Marty Griffin (KDKA Radio)

Buchanan: Let’s also talk about another issue. Let’s talk about that issue. You keep rolling around numbers wildly exaggerated that this case cost $10 million — (interrupted)

Griffin: No, Dr. Wecht said 20 (million) actually.

Buchanan: But you repeat it and that’s just flat-out wrong. And you know, we still have defamation laws in this country. And to the extent that you keep repeating things are flat-out wrong, you’re running afoul. That case could not have cost the government more than $500,000, and that’s on the outside.”

Griffin: So you’re saying you’re going to sue me? “Is that what you’re saying, Mary Beth, because Dr. Wecht and others are suggesting? So you’re gonna run for Congress, and you’re threatening to sue me because we’re suggesting that the case cost $20 million?

Buchanan: I’m saying you have to know what you’re talking about before you start repeating things.

Griffin: So his lawyers are wrong and you’re right? Is that what you’re saying?

Buchanan: That’s right. And I was the U.S. Attorney and I know what it cost. And to the extent that you were misinformed and you’re misinforming your viewers I’m here to correct you.

Griffin then asks Buchanan if she’s willing to provide documents indicating exactly how much the case cost.

Griffin: Are you gonna answer my question?

Buchanan: I am answering your question, if you would shut up and let me talk.

Griffin: Oh, so this is how you’re gonna run? Telling people to shut up and threatening them with lawsuits?

Buchanan: Listen, if you want the facts, I’m here to give them to you. If you hear want to hear yourself talk, then why do you even invite people to come on and be guests?

Griffin: Go ahead, Mary Beth.

Buchanan: Okay, thank you.

Griffin: You sound very defensive to me. It’s a long road, Mary Beth, to run for office. This is just the beginning. This is just your toe in the water. But go ahead.

Click here for the audio of the conversation between Griffin and Buchanan.

The Democratic chairs of the Senate Judiciary and intelligence committees told President Barack Obama today they support Attorney General Eric Holder’s handling of terrorism suspects.

Patrick Leahy (Getty Images)

Dianne Feinstein (gov)

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the Judiciary panel chairman, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said they disagree with the barrage of recent criticism of the Attorney General and the Obama administration over decisions on terrorism cases.

“We should not let partisan distractions lead us to cast aside such valuable tools as the experienced terrorism interrogators of the FBI or forego convicting terrorists in our Federal courts,” the senators wrote in a joint letter to the president.

For months, Republicans have condemned Holder’s decision to try self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged coconspirators in a New York City federal court, arguing a military tribunal is a better forum. Democrats last month joined the criticism after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) raised concerns about the costs and disruptions to Lower Manhattan of a lengthy trial requiring high security.

Republicans have also been upset over the decision to treat alleged Christmas Day airplane bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as a civilian and allow the FBI to read him the Nigerian national his Miranda rights after a brief interrogation. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin have suggested Holder resign over the issue.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced legislation earlier this month that would prohibit the Justice Department from using funds to prosecute KSM and his alleged accomplices in federal court. The bill has 27 co-sponsors, including Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Jim Webb of Virginia, all of whom represent conservative-leaning states. Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who caucuses with the Democrats, also is a co-sponsor.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) introduced a companion bill in the House earlier this month. The bill has 49 co-sponsors, including Democratic Reps. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, Dan Boren of Oklahoma and Bobby Bright of Alabama.

“Congress should not tie the hands of our national security and law enforcement agencies, but should instead ensure they have the flexibility to use every means available,” Leahy and Feinstein said in their letter. “Congress should be working with you in a shared mission to most effectively protect our national security and to ensure that just convictions, once obtained, will be sustained and upheld.”

Former Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan will decide within the next couple weeks whether she will seek the Republican nomination for a House seat in Western Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported today.

Mary Beth Buchanan (Steve Pope)

Buchanan, who served as the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney from 2001 until November 2009, told the newspaper that she was “very encouraged” by meetings she had with local Republicans about seeking the 4th District seat just north of Pittsburgh that is held by Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), who is running for a third term.

“The common message I’ve been hearing, consistently, is that most voters feel the current administration is forcing its agenda and programs on people who don’t want them, who don’t feel like paying for them and who are not willing to leave this tax bill for future generations,” Buchanan told the Tribune-Review.

The ex-U.S. Attorney would likely challenge lawyer Keith Rothfus in the Republican primary, according to the newspaper. Congressional Quarterly rates the district as “likely Democratic” for the 2010 election.

Beaver County GOP Chairman Marty Matthews told the Tribune-Review that Buchanan would face an “uphill battle” if she runs. The former U.S. Attorney has received harsh criticism for her unsuccessful prosecution of former Allegheny County medical examiner Cyril Wecht.

Her office dismissed all charges against the prominent Democratic defendant after a federal judge threw out evidence that he ruled was improperly obtained. Wecht’s supporters accused Buchanan of targeting him because of his politics. And former Attorney General Richard Thornburgh asked Attorney General Eric Holder to discipline Buchanan for “vindictively� suggesting at a news conference that Wecht was guilty, but nothing ever came of the request -– at least publicly.

“Personal opinion, I think if there were another candidate who had the recognition that Mary Beth Buchanan has, it would be the better choice,” Matthews told the newspaper. “It’s the Wecht thing, primarily.”

We reported last week that Buchanan also came out on the losing end of an apparent political skirmish over a rescue mission for 53 Haitian orphans. She was trying to organize efforts to help Haitian children stranded in an orphanage destroyed by this month’s earthquake. But Altmire and Gov. Ed Rendell (D) planned their own rescue mission and kept the Bush U.S. Attorney mostly out of the loop.

Two other former U.S. Attorneys from Pennsylvania who served during the administration of George W. Bush have already declared their candidacies for House seats.

Tom Marino, who was the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 2002 to October 2007, is running for the seat held by Rep. Chris Carney (D). Patrick Meehan, who led the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2008, is seeking the seat that is being vacated by Rep. Joe Sestak (D), who is running against Sen. Arlen Specter in the state’s Democratic Senate primary.

The Republican former U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh, Mary Beth Buchanan, has been thinking of running for Congress. And perhaps it’s cynical to link her ambitions to a heartwarming rescue plan she’s been trying to organize for Haitian children stranded in an orphanage destroyed by last week’s earthquake.

Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) outmanuevered his potential rival by pulling off the humanitarian mission first. (Getty Images)

Except that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) — whose House seat Buchanan has been eyeing —  have made the connection for us.

While Buchanan was still planning her mission (and a nice photo op for a future campaign?), the governor and Altmire swooped in and rescued 53 orphans, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The governor and the Democratic congressman accompanied a group of doctors and others on an airplane to the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince. The politicians and the orphans arrived today at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Mary Beth Buchanan (Steve Pope)

Buchanan, who served as the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney from 2001 until November 2009, had been trying to arrange for a private plane to shuttle the Haitian orphans to the United States. She was also in contact with an immigration lawyer and found a doctor to help care for the children.

Americans Jamie McMurtie Heckman and Alison McMurtie, who lived at the orphanage and hail from Pittsburgh, told The Associated Press that the children had been living in the orphanage’s yard without any food or water after the quake struck the impoverished Caribbean nation last Tuesday.

Buchanan sounded a bit peeved in a statement to the Tribune-Review. ”I had little prior knowledge of the attempted air rescue mission that departed from Pittsburgh today, though I have since been advised that some of the resources aboard the flight were collected through the efforts of myself and others.”

She added: ”Now that it is underway I am hopeful for the best, and continue to pray for the safety of young Jamie and Ali, this group of Haitian orphans and all of the people suffering in Haiti.”

Spokespersons for Rendell and Altmire didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from Main Justice.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cessar has been named acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Mary Beth Buchanan, who was named the office’s head prosecutor in 2001, resigned on Monday.

While Buchanan did not announce her official plans, she has been in discussions with local Republican party leaders about running for the Republican nomination to challenge  Rep. Jason Altmire (D), who represents Pennsylvania’s 4th congressional district.

Cessar has served in the office since 1990 and had held the position of first assistant since 2002. He was previously an attorney for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Washington. Cessar can hold the acting title for 210 days. President Obama has yet to nominate a replacement. Democratic Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey haven’t announced whether they’ve made recommendations to Obama for any of Pennsylvania’s three districts.

Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan will step down tomorrow, leaving office with one regret, the Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA reported.

Mary Beth Buchanan (DOJ)

The controversial Bush holdover, who has served as U.S. Attorney since 2001 and also held a Justice Department position in Washington during the Bush years, told the television station that she wishes she never approved a plea deal with comedian Tommy Chong in a drug paraphernalia case called Operation Pipe Dream.

Chong, who starred in the “Cheech & Chong” movies, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia through a family business to save his wife and son from prosecution. He was sentenced in 2003 to nine months in prison and was ordered to pay a fine. It isn’t clear from the KDKA article why Buchanan regretted the plea deal, but Chong’s prosecution had sparked protests by civil libertarians and ridicule for Buchanan’s office.

Buchanan told KDKA she had no regrets about another case that her critics questioned, the unsuccessful prosecution of former Allegheny County medical examiner Cyril Wecht.

Her office dismissed all charges against the Democratic defendant after a federal judge threw out evidence that he ruled was improperly obtained. Wecht’s supporters accused Buchanan of targeting him because of his politics. Former Attorney General Richard Thornburgh asked Attorney General Eric Holder to discipline Buchanan for “vindictivelyâ€� suggesting at a news conference that Wecht was guilty, but nothing ever came of the request – at least publicly.

Buchanan didn’t tell KDKA about her future plans, but said she is considering another public office. We reported that she might run for the Republican nomination to challenge  Rep. Jason Altmire (D), who represents Pennsylvania’s 4th congressional district.

Western District First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Cessar is slated to serve as acting U.S. Attorney until a successor to Buchanan is confirmed by the Senate, according to the television station. Pennsylvania Democratic Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey have yet to announce their recommendation for the post.

Mary Beth Buchanan (DOJ)

The resignation of Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan could mean the White House is close to announcing her replacement. At least, that’s our take on this article today in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The newspaper’s interpretation is the other way around. It speculates that Buchanan has spurred the White House to move a nominee for Pennsylvania’s Western District through the announcement last week of her Nov. 16 departure.

But in our experience, the Bush holdovers who have been clinging to office (and their steady paychecks) long past their expiration date in the Obama administration let go only after the White House informs them their replacement is imminent.

At the same time, Buchanan apparently has her sights on elective office. Criticism from Democrats — not the imminence of her replacement — could be the explanation for her departure. She is reportedly considering a run for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Jason Altmire (D), who represents Pennsylvania’s 4th congressional district.

In her eight years as U.S. Attorney, Buchanan kicked up controversy on several fronts. She pursued prosecutions that critics said targeted Democrats, which she has denied. meantime, leadership roles she held at DOJ headquarters in Washington fueled suspicion she helped politicize the department during the Bush administration.

The White House has yet to announce a nominee for U.S. Attorney, although “preliminary vetting� by the Justice Department reportedly has begun. David Hickton, co-founder of transportation law firm Burns, White and Hickton, is believed to be the favorite of Democratic Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, news reports have said.

Attorney David Hickton (Burns, White and Hickton)

Ken Gormley, interim dean of Duquesne University School of Law, told The Tribune-Review: “Clearly the issue has moved to the front burner of the White House,” adding, “It’s enough time and will probably spur the White House onward to expedite the process — if not for the whole country, at least for Western Pennsylvania because it requires a decision now.” However, “It’s not completely unusual for these things to take a period of time.”

Fred Thieman, a U.S. Attorney during the Clinton administration, told The Tribune-Review the nomination process has been slowed because of increased scrutiny of presidential appointees. “There’s more pre-announcement vetting than there used to be.”

Mary Beth Buchanan (Steve Pope)

Pittsburgh U.S Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan will resign from her post on Nov. 16, The Associated Press reports. Buchanan has served as the district’s head prosecutor since September 2001. Although she did not announce her plans, Buchanan reportedly is considering a run for the Republican nomination to challenge  Rep. Jason Altmire (D), who represents Pennsylvania’s 4th congressional district.

Buchanan has been criticized by Democrats who claim she helped politicize the Justice Department under President George W. Bush. While serving as U.S Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, she simultaneously worked as a senior official in various positions at DOJ headquarters in Washington.

Buchanan also has been accused of targeting Democrats for prosecution, which she has denied, and recently came under fire from a federal public defender for her handling of privileged telephone conversations between inmates at the Allegheny County Jail and their lawyers that were inadvertently recorded.

Although “preliminary vetting” by DOJ has begun for Buchanan’s replacement, no nominee has been announced. David Hickton, co-founder of transportation law firm Burns, White and Hickton, is believed to be the favorite of Democratic Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, news reports have said.

Mary Beth Buchanan (Steve Pope)

A Pennsylvania Democratic party leader is calling on Pittsburgh’s U.S. Attorney to resign following reports that she is considering a run for Congress, The Associated Press reported. Allegheny County Democratic Party Chair Jim Burn said the Western District of Pennsylvania’s Mary Beth Buchanan, a Republican, has created a conflict of interest by serving as U.S. Attorney while mulling a run for the U.S. House.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

In a preview of potential campaign rhetoric, Mr. Burn said that Ms. Buchanan’s actions during her eight-year span in the office — particularly the failed prosecution of former Coroner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht — “unfortunately contributed to the deterioration of an office which must always remain above and beyond any and all political reproach.”

Last weekend, Jim Roddey, the head of Allegheny County’s Republican Party, said Buchanan is considering challenging Rep. Jason Altmire (D), who represents Pennsylvania’s 4th congressional district.

Buchanan has served as the district’s top federal prosecutor since 2001. During the Bush administration, she also held simultaneous leadership positions at Justice Department headquarters in Washington. From 2004 to 2005, she headed the Executive Office of United States Attorneys and came under scrutiny in the House Judiciary Committee’s investigation of events leading up to the 2006 U.S. Attorney firings. Democrats have also accused her of targeting Democrats for prosecution. Buchanan has denied those allegations.