Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said today that she wants Jim Letten, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, to stay on the job.

Jim Letten (USDOJ)

Letten became the interim U.S. attorney for the district in 2001 and was later appointed by President Bush in 2005. “The New Orleans region is a safer place thanks to the grit and determination of our U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, and he deserves reappointment,” Landrieu said in a statement.

The Times-Picayune says Letten was supported by  Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), but was not backed by some Democrats.

The paper reports:

…Today’s announcement is sure to disappoint some Democrats and African-American leaders who have been urging her to choose a qualified Democrat who would also be committed to prosecuting public corruption. New Orleans attorney Brian Jackson, a longtime federal prosecutor, was among those rumored to be a top candidate.

Landrieu is still reviewing candidates for the Middle and Western Districts, said her spokesperson, Aaron Saunders. She is the second Democratic senator to support keeping a Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney in place; the other is Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who wants Patrick Fitzgerald to be reappointed. Fitzgerald is prosecuting former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) for corruption.