No Such Thing As Blind Justice in Bush Justice Department

An article in today’s Washington Post sheds new light on Republican efforts to politicize the Bush Justice Department by weeding out employees who were not considered loyal Republican foot soldiers. The article highlights the role of Acting Assistant Attorney General Brad Schlozman in the politically motivated hirings and firings in the civil rights division of the Justice Department. The civil rights division of the Justice Department is responsible for fighting racial discrimination. Under the Bush Administration it has dismissed many diverse, skilled career attorneys and replaced them with less experienced attorneys with conservative credentials who do not reflect America's racial diversity.

According to the article, Schlozman removed experienced attorneys under false pretenses and was blatant about his desire to fill the division with loyal Republicans. In some instances Schlozman intimidated employees who had not voted for President Bush. At one time he stated that his motive for firing a minority woman was to “make room for some good Americans.”[The Washington Post , 6/21/07]

Democratic National Committee Voting Rights Institute Chair Donna Brazile issued the following statement:

“It has become more and more evident that the practices of the Bush Administration and its highly politicized Justice Department are not merely isolated incidents, but a part of a larger pattern designed to do away with law and order in favor of Republican ideology. This Administration has shown a consistent disregard for the law by working to erode fundamental civil and voting rights of the American people who they were hired to serve. Americans deserve a Justice Department that will be a force against injustice and discrimination. Democrats are working to restore ethics in our government so that everyone regardless of partisan affiliation is guaranteed equal rights under the law.”