U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. When presidents start their terms, they have typically asked for their resignations. The president has the right to ask for the resignation of any U.S. attorney at any time.

The problem with President Bush’s firing of eight U.S. attorneys is it appears that these firings were done in an attempt to obstruct justice. First of all, administration officials felt that the prosecutions of Jack Abramoff and Rep. Duke Cunningham were pursued too vigorously. They also felt that the “outing” of CIA operative Valerie Plame should not have been pursued.

Republicans want voter fraud pursued. Voter fraud is a Republican euphemism for suppression of minority voting. In the 2000 elections, several thousand minorities were prevented from voting in Florida alone. Republican administrations from Richard M. Nixon to George W. Bush have tried to have the voting rights laws overturned as well as the civil rights laws. The fewer minorities that vote, the more likely Republican candidates will be successful. That is why Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, called the U.S. attorney in New Mexico; he wanted “voter fraud” cases pursued before the 2004 elections.

Obstruction of justice is an impeachable offense, and the Bush/Cheney administration has been obstructing justice since coming to power. For obstruction of justice, an illegal war, violating the Constitution and ratified treaties, Bush and Cheney should be impeached and removed from office right now, before Bush has a chance to pardon all of the criminals in his administration.

Judson Duncan, Monmouth

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