Tom Corbett, a former U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney, will be sworn in as Pennsylvania’s new governor today, the Scranton Times Tribune reported.

Tom Corbett (gov)

Corbett, a Republican, served as the Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney from 1989 to 1993. He also was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania during the Ronald Reagan administration, specializing in the prosecution of organized crime and drug cases and serving as a member of the President’s National Drug Task Force. Most recently he served as the state’s Attorney General.

In November, Corbett defeated Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell (D).

Burns White LLC has hired former Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen S. Stallings to head its white collar criminal defense practice group.

Stallings worked as a prosecutor from 2001 to 2008 in the U.S. Attorney offices in Pittsburgh and Miami. His prosecutions focused on white collar crime and public corruption.

After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office, Stallings became a sole practitioner.

He previously worked as an equity partner at Hunton & Williams LLP, an associate at Holland & Knight LLP and an associate at Shutts & Bowen LLP.

Burns White LLC’s main office is in Pittsburgh. The firm also has offices elsewhere in Pennsylvania as well as in Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia.

One George W. Bush U.S. Attorney cited in the Inspector General’s report this week for excess travel costs was none other than Mary Beth Buchanan, former Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Wednesday.

Buchanan, who served as U.S. Attorney from 2001 to 2009, was “U.S. Attorney B” in the report, which lists five unnamed former U.S. Attorney’s leaders who “routinely exceeded the government rate [for lodging], by large amounts, with insufficient, inaccurate, or no justification.”

According to the report, she paid more than the government rate 11 times at upscale hotels in D.C., including the Mayflower, Renaissance, J.W. Marriott and Grand Hyatt. The former U.S. Attorney also stayed at a “hotel in a resort destination” that was several miles away from the inauguration of a state attorney general, paying about two and half times the government rate for a room, the report said. Buchanan also charged the DOJ for a couple days she spent at a Tucson, Ariz., resort hotel before a conference was set to begin, according to the report.

“We found that Attorney B’s explanations for her pattern of claiming reimbursement for lodging above the government rate was unpersuasive and that for many of these trips she did not qualify for any exception to the government rate,” the Inspector General report released Monday said. “In particular, we believe this U.S. Attorney had a practice of claiming that the government rate was “unavailable” if she could not find it at a particular hotel or small group of preferred hotels. Neither the [Federal Travel Regulation] nor any Department policy authorizes Department employees to exceed the government rate if it is not available at select hotels.”

Buchanan told the Tribune-Review that she didn’t agree with many of the report’s findings. She said the report didn’t include the correct information about her Tucson trip, and that she attended another event during the days she was in Tucson.

The former U.S. Attorney told the newspaper that the report “does not say that the cost wasn’t appropriate,” but notes that her office lacked the appropriate amount of justification for excessive travel expenses.

“If they had asked for additional justification, we would have been happy to provide it,” Buchanan told the Tribune-Review.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was also identified as one of the five former leaders of U.S. Attorneys’ offices in the report.

Christie, who was New Jersey U.S. Attorney from 2002 to 2008, is “U.S. Attorney C” in the report. He spent more than double the government rate at upscale hotels in D.C. and Boston, according to the report.

In July, the Justice Department issued new rules for U.S. Attorneys’ out-of-district travel. In a story at the time, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that during her eight years as U.S. Attorney, Buchanan took at least 347 trips that cost taxpayers more than $450,000. According to the newspaper, DOJ officials would not specifically address Buchanan’s travel or how it compared to travel by other U.S. Attorneys.

A Justice Department spokeswoman told Main Justice in July that the DOJ decided to update the travel regulations after a review.

“The previous policies and procedures were admittedly inconsistent — and the new memo was a result of a comprehensive review of all travel rules and regulations,” Justice Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said in a statement. “Moving forward, this memo will serve as the single set of guidelines for the U.S. Attorney community, and all other guidance will be based off this memo.”

The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys updates policies and procedures as needed, Schwartz said. “These updated procedures reflect goals of improved transparency and stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” she added.

Buchanan resigned Nov. 16, 2009, to run for the Republication nomination for the 4th congressional district in Pennsylvania. She lost that race in May to former Department of Homeland Security official Keith Rothfus.

The new U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania does not intend to seek the spotlight that often shone on his George W. Bush-appointed predecessor, KDKA reported on Wednesday.

David Hickton (DOJ)

U.S. Attorney David Hickton, who the Senate confirmed in August, said he prefers to work behind the scenes to help his clients, who are now the residents of the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Bush administration appointee Mary Beth Buchanan, who resigned as Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney almost a year ago, often found herself in front of television cameras as she handled high-profile cases.

Hickton declined comment to the television station on Buchanan, who came under fire for her work on various cases, including the unsuccessful prosecution of Allegheny County medical examiner Cyril Wecht, a prominent Democrat.

“I don’t really want to look backwards,” he told KDKA. “I would prefer to look forward. I don’t comment on what was done before me. I can only say that we’re going to try to run a very professional office.”

Hickton also said he is not interested in using his tenure as U.S. Attorney as a stepping stone to run for public office.

Buchanan and George H.W. Bush U.S. Attorney Tom Corbett both sought elected office. But they had different results.

Corbett was elected Pennsylvania attorney general in 2004. Buchanan lost her bid for a House seat in a Republican primary in May.

“[Elected office is] not on my radar screen at all,” Hickton told the television station. “I think this is a fantastic job. It is the best place for a person like me.”

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania drew on the words of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy during his ceremonial investiture on Tuesday.

David Hickton (DOJ)

U.S. Attorney David Hickton, whom the Senate confirmed on Aug. 5, told family, friends, colleagues and dignitaries gathered for his swearing in that Kennedy instructed U.S. Attorneys to: “Do the right thing; be just; do not concern yourself with the background or political persuasion of the people you investigate — prosecute crime not people — be strong and vigilant but always be fair,” according to his prepared remarks.

Hickton, who was sworn in by senior U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond, a U.S. Attorney under Kennedy, said he would be aggressive, but fair as the top federal prosecutor in the Pittsburgh-based district.

“[W]e will strike hard blows but not foul ones,” Hickton said. “[W]e will ensure that the guilty are punished and the innocent do not suffer.”

Melinda Haag (Orrick)

The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed three U.S. Attorney nominees by voice vote at its meeting Thursday.

They are:

- Melinda Haag (Northern District of California): The partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe would replace George W. Bush U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello. President Barack Obama nominated her on March 25. Read more about her here.

Barry R. Grissom (Law Office of Barry R. Grissom)

- Barry R. Grissom (Kansas): The Overland Park, Kan., lawyer would succeed Eric Melgren, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney in 2008. Obama tapped him on April 28. Read more about him here.

David Hickton (Burns, White and Hickton)

– David J. Hickton (Western District of Pennsylvania): The founding member of Burns, White & Hickton LLC would succeed Mary Beth Buchanan, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney in November 2009 to run for the House. But she didn’t win the Republican nomination in the race for the Western Pennsylvania seat held by Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire. Obama nominated Hickton on May 20. Read more about him here.

The committee has now approved 66 of Obama’s U.S. Attorney nominees, 57 of whom have won Senate confirmation. The panel has yet to schedule votes for another eight would-be U.S. Attorneys. There are 93 U.S. Attorney posts.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to consider three U.S. Attorney nominees at its meeting Thursday.

They are:

Melinda Haag (Orrick)

- Melinda Haag (Northern District of California): The partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe would replace George W. Bush U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello. President Barack Obama nominated her on March 25. Read more about her here.

Barry R. Grissom (Law Office of Barry R. Grissom)

- Barry R. Grissom (Kansas): The Overland Park, Kan., lawyer would succeed Eric Melgren, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney in 2008. Obama tapped him on April 28. Read more about him here.

– David J. Hickton (Western District of Pennsylvania): The founding member of Burns, White & Hickton LLC would succeed Mary Beth Buchanan, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney in November 2009 to stage an unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire. Obama nominated Hickton on May 20. Read more about him here.

Attorney David Hickton (Burns, White and Hickton)

The panel has yet to schedule votes for another eight would-be U.S. Attorneys. The committee has approved 63 of Obama’s U.S. Attorney nominees, 57 of whom have won Senate confirmation. There are 93 U.S. Attorney posts.

David Hickton (Burns, White and Hickton LLC)

David J. Hickton (Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh School of Law) is nominated to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He would replace Mary Beth Buchanan, who resigned to run for the Republication nomination for the 4th congressional district in Pennsylvania, which she lost.  The district’s current acting U.S. Attorney is Robert S. Cessar.

His vitals:

• Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1955.
• Attended but did not earn a degree from Exeter University in the United Kingdom.
• Has been with Burns, White & Hickton LLC in Pittsburgh since 1987. Was a founding and executive member from 1987 to 2008 and became of counsel in 2009.
• Has been an adjunct professor of law in antitrust at Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh since 1998.
• Was the founder and principal of  DH Consulting LLC in Pittsburgh from 2008 to 2009.
• Was an associate attorney focusing on commercial and antitrust litigation at Dickie McCamey & Chilcote PC in Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1987.
• Clerked for the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Gustave Diamond in Pittsburgh from 1981 to 1993.
• Tried approximately 36 cases to trial as sole or chief counsel and approximately 23 as special/associate or supervisory counsel.
• Was respondent in a petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court which was resolved favorably by denial of the petition in the case U.S. ex reL Mistick Pbt and Mistick Pbt v. Housing Auth. Of the City of Pittsburgh, et al., 186 F.3d 376 (3rd Cir.).

Click here for his full Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire.

UPDATE: On his Senate Judiciary financial disclosure Hickton reported assets valued at $9.8 million, mostly from securities and real estate, and $1.4 million in liabilities, mostly from mortgages, for a net worth of $8.4 million.

On his Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure  Hickton reported that he received $43,000 from Burns, White & Hickton LLC, a $2,400 stipend from Duquesne University and $40,000 in interest payments from a notein 2009 and the first few months of 2010.

The White House announced two new U.S. Attorney nominations Thursday night.

They are:

Attorney David Hickton (Burns, White and Hickton)

– David J. Hickton (Western District of Pennsylvania): The founding member of Burns, White & Hickton, LLC would replace Mary Beth Buchanan. Buchanan resigned to run for the Republication nomination for the 4th congressional district in Pennsylvania, currently represented by Rep. Jason Altmire (D). She lost the primary race on Tuesday. The district’s current U.S. Attorney is Robert S. Cessar.

Bill Killian (Wcklaw.net)

– William C. Killian (Eastern District of Tennessee): The sole practitioner at William C. Killian, Attorney at Law PC would replace Bush holdover James R. Dedrick, who has served as U.S. Attorney since 2001.

President Barack Obama has now made 70  U.S. Attorney nominations, 48 of whom have already won Senate confirmation.

Mary Beth Buchanan (DOJ)

Helped by personal loans, Mary Beth Buchanan’s primary opponent in Pennsylvania’s 4th District House race finished the first quarter with more money than the former federal prosecutor. Buchanan, who served as the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney from 2001 until November 2009, is one of two candidates seeking the GOP nomination.

In the first quarter of 2010, Buchanan raised $68,000 and ended the quarter with $102,000 cash on hand. During that three-month period, she loaned the campaign $50,000.  During the same period, her GOP foe, former Department of Homeland Security official Keith Rothfus, raised almost $85,000 and ended the quarter with $132,000 cash on hand. He loaned the campaign $75,000.

Both candidates hope to challenge Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary. In the first quarter of 2010 Altmire raised almost $280,000 and ended the quarter with almost $1.2 million cash on hand.

The primary election will take place May 18.