The Justice Department Firings

Breitbart lays out the text of White House emails:

Entitled, "Plan for Replacing Certain United States Attorneys," the step-by-step instructions were sent by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, as an attachment to an e-mail. Sampson resigned Tuesday. The e-mail was released Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee.

"Recipients of such 'appeals' must respond identically," the memo said, as follows:

"-What? U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president (there is no right nor should there be any expectation that U.S. attorneys would be entitled to serve beyond their four-year term).

"-Who decided? The administration made the determination to seek the resignations (not any specific person at the White House or the Department of Justice).

"-Why me? The administration is grateful for your service, but wants to give someone else the chance to serve in your district.

"-I need more time! The decision is to have a new acting or interim U.S. attorney in place by January 31, 2007 (granting "extensions" will hinder the process of getting a new U.S. attorney in place and giving that person the opportunity to serve for a full two years)."

Steps four and five directed Justice Department officials to name replacements and submit them for Senate confirmation.