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WASHINGTON (AP) ― U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison joined the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday in seeking information from the Justice Department on whether politics played a role in the changing of U.S. attorneys in Minnesota last year.

In a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Ellison and Rep. John Conyers wrote that they were "concerned about the possibility that U.S. Attorneys were appointed solely for their loyalty to the Bush Administration, rather than for their competence and commitment to justice.

"As you know, in Minnesota, former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger stepped down in February 2006 and was replaced by Rachel Paulose, a politically-connected former senior aide in the Department of Justice."

Heffelfinger has denied that he was pressured to leave, and he reiterated Tuesday that he left on his own accord. But last month, Gonzales' one-time chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, told congressional investigators that senior Justice Department officials had raised concerns about Heffelfinger.

Ellison, D-Minn., and Conyers, D-Mich., said they wanted to know whether Heffelfinger's resignation was "entirely voluntary."

"Was Ms. Paulose's appointment based on 'political loyalty' and part of a broader strategy to suppress voter turnout?" they asked. "What steps are being taken to address the turmoil that has plagued this office in recent months?"

Last month, three lawyers in Paulose's office resigned from their top management posts, raising questions about the 34-year-old's management style and experience.

Before taking over in Minnesota, Paulose had worked closely with Justice Department leaders who now are under fire, including a stint as special assistant to Gonzales. Critics have suggested her appointment was an example of political cronyism.

Ellison and Conyers requested communications and documents on issues raised in the letter -- including Justice Department evaluations of Heffelfinger, any consideration of removing him, and documents relating to his resignation.

They are also seeking documents about efforts to enforce voter fraud and ballot integrity/security laws in Minnesota, and complaints or communications about the operation of the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota.

Phone and e-mail messages left with the Justice Department and Paulose's office were not immediately returned.

"We're just trying to find out what's going on with our federal justice system," Ellison said in a telephone interview.

In the wake of the firings of eight U.S. attorneys across the country that critics say were carried out for political reasons, Ellison said he also wanted to know which prosecutors were retained "because they have demonstrated loyalty instead of competence and merit."

Ellison said he plans to ask Gonzales about the Minnesota office at a Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for Thursday.

"I practiced law for 16 years in Minneapolis," Ellison said. "I don't bring an empty suitcase to this issue. I've tried cases in federal district court and state court. I know all of the people who took voluntary demotions personally or by reputation. I know they're all excellent people. ...So for them to make the decision that they made to me raises serious questions."

The committee has already asked to interview Paulose. It has not yet received a response from the Justice Department on that request, according to the committee.

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