national

2006

• Feb. 14: U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger announces he will resign by the end of the month.

• Feb. 17: Rachel Paulose is named interim U.S. attorney. She begins the job March 1.

• Aug. 3: President Bush nominates Paulose to succeed Heffelfinger.

• Dec. 7: The firing of a number of U.S. attorneys sparks debate that the dismissals were politically motivated.

• Dec. 9: Paulose, 33, is unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

2007

• April 5: Three top lawyers in the Paulose's office resign from their leadership roles.

• May 8: Rep. Keith Ellison asks the Justice Department to turn over documents regarding the departure of Heffelfinger, the appointment of Paulose and the management and morale in her office.

• Aug. 27: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigns after congressional scrutiny over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys.

• September: News reports confirm that Paulose's office is under investigation because she allegedly retaliated against a staff member who reported a security breach, and because Paulose allegedly made derogatory comments about a black employee.

• Nov. 16: Paulose makes a statement in a conservative blog, saying she was cleared on the security matter and denying the alleged racist statements.

• Nov. 19: Paulose announces her resignation.

TIMELINE

• Feb. 14, 2006 U.S. Attorney Tom Hef-felfinger announces that he would resign Feb. 28 and return to private practice. Heffelfinger said he was not asked to leave his position.

• Feb. 17, 2006 Paulose, senior counsel to Acting Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty in Washington, D.C. and a former assistant U.S. attorney for Minnesota, is named interim U.S. attorney.

August 3, 2006 President Bush picks Paulose to succeed Heffelfinger.

December 7, 2006 The mass firings of 7 U.S. attorneys sparks controversy that the dismissals were politically motivated and not performance related.