Nov 17, 2007 2:56 pm US/Central
In Article, Paulose Denies Making Racial Slur
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
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In an article published by the National Review Online, Paulose denies retaliating against a top attorney for reporting that she mishandled unclassified information. (File)
CBS
U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Rachel Paulose has denied allegations that she made racially disparaging comments about one employee, and she disputed details surrounding the alleged mishandling of classified documents, according to an online article written by an attorney who says he is Paulose's friend.
Paulose's comments were reported Friday by attorney Scott Johnson in a commentary he wrote for National Review Online, a conservative Web site. The comments come two months after a local blogger reported that the U.S. Office of Special Counsel was investigating Paulose.
Back then, blogger Eric Black used anonymous sources to report that Paulose allegedly used the words "fat," "black," and "lazy" to refer to one employee.
In Johnson's article on Friday, Paulose was quoted as saying: "I NEVER made any such statement. I have told the (justice) department so, and the department is defending me against this outrageous and defamatory lie."
This is the first time Paulose has publicly denied making the comments.
A spokesperson with the Department of Justice did not immediately return an Associated Press phone call Saturday to confirm whether officials where defending Paulose.
According to Johnson's article, Paulose added: "The McCarthyite hysteria that permits the anonymous smearing of any public servant who is now, or ever may have been, a member of the Federalist Society; a person of faith; and/or a conservative ... is truly a disservice to our country."
David Anderson, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Paulose would not comment further. But he added, "the factual details in Scott Johnson's article are accurate."
Citing anonymous sources, Black reported in September that the Office of Special Counsel was investigating Paulose for allegedly mishandling classified information that was supposed to be kept locked up. Black reported that when then-First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marti brought the issue to Paulose's attention and filed a report, she threatened to replace him.
In Johnson's article, Paulose said she reported the security incident to the Justice Department herself and that she was cleared of any security violation.
Paulose did not address the allegations of retaliation.
There have been reports of turmoil in the U.S. Attorney's Office for months. In April, Marti and two other top supervisors stepped down from their management roles and went back to prosecuting cases, prompting a visit from a high-ranking Justice official.
The self-demotions drew national attention because they happened as Congress was investigating allegations that eight former U.S. attorneys were fired and replaced by loyalists of President George Bush. Former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Tom Heffelfinger left his position of his own accord in 2006 -- and Paulose was appointed to take his place.
Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican, met with new Attorney General Michael Mukasey and expressed concern about the allegations against Paulose. That meeting happened before Mukasey was confirmed to his new post. Coleman said he also told Mukasey the Department of Justice should provide better management support to U.S. attorney offices.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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