A Congressional probe into the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys last year has raised new questions about the role that disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff played in the 2003 demotion of Frederick Black, the former U.S. attorney in Guam.
At issue is whether a report compiled by the Department of Justice’s inspector general took into account the fact that White House officials had been using email accounts maintained by the Republican National Committee before concluding that Black was not demoted for political reasons.

Black had served as interim U.S. attorney in Guam for twelve years and was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush before being abruptly replaced in May 2003.

His dismissal stirred controversy at the time because Black was a political enemy of Abramoff, who had been retained as a lobbyist by numerous individuals that were being investigated by Black for public corruption.

Many of the White House and DOJ officials currently under scrutiny in the U.S. attorney firings played a role in Black’s replacement, including then Counsel to the President Alberto Gonzales, his former Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson and President Bush.

A parallel issue with the current U.S. attorney firing investigation is the vital role of the liaison between the DOJ and the White House. In both cases, this official coordinated and participated in meetings with DOJ and White House staff who were planning the replacement of U.S. attorneys. In the Guam case, Sampson served as a liaison for communications between then Attorney General John Ashcroft and the White House. Sampson met directly with President Bush prior to announcing Black’s demotion to gain approval for the candidate for Black’s replacement.

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