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Now, focus is on getting office back on track
Paulose's departure brought reactions from relief to silence from Minnesota's delegation in Washington.
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WASHINGTON - Minnesota's congressional delegation reacted with a mixture of silence and relief at the pending departure of Rachel Paulose, the state's embattled U.S. attorney.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, welcomed the news Monday. "I hope this will be the last chapter for our state when it comes to the legacy left by [former U.S. Attorney General] Alberto Gonzales."
Klobuchar, a former Hennepin County attorney, added that she had been "very concerned with the turmoil in the office over the past year."
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, who nominated Paulose, had also expressed concerns recently, asking incoming U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey to address the management issues raised by employees in the Minnesota office.
Coleman thanked Paulose for her service Monday but said he supported her decision to step down.
"I believe this decision will allow the office to move forward," Coleman said.
Coleman also said he would ask Mukasey to make the "necessary department-wide changes," including strengthening human resource management, engaging in active oversight, and providing the training "needed from the moment concerns of this nature are raised."
Coleman gave no indication Monday whom he might recommend for the job. Last year, along with Paulose, Coleman also nominated Clayton Robinson Jr., a longtime friend in the Ramsey County attorney's office.
The Bush administration appointed Paulose to replace Tom Heffelfinger, who had resigned to go into private practice. An aide to Gonzales subsequently testified to Congress that Heffelfinger had been targeted for dismissal.
Those circumstances attracted the attention of Rep. Keith Ellison and other Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, which sought unsuccessfully to interview Paulose.
Ellison expressed mixed feelings Monday. "I take no pleasure in the resignation of Ms. Paulose, but I don't lament it," he said. "We now need to get about the business of restoring the office to its historic high standards."
While all the Republicans in the Minnesota House delegation remained silent, some Democrats spoke out against what they see as the politicization of the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota under Paulose and Gonzales.
"Minnesota's U.S. attorney's office has always had an excellent reputation for operating in a fair, nonpartisan manner," said Rep. Jim Oberstar. "I hope the next U.S. attorney will work hard to repair the damage."
kdiaz@startribune.com • 202-408-2753
nperlman@startribune.com • 202-408-2723
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