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Sep 24, 2007 4:40 pm US/Central
Coleman To Discuss Paulose With AG Nominee
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
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Last week, blogger Eric Black reported that Paulose was being investigated by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for allegedly mishandling classified information and threatening to replace the employee who told her about it. (File)
CBS
Sen. Norm Coleman plans to discuss new allegations against U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose with Michael Mukasey, the attorney general nominee, to ensure that they are properly investigated.
Last week, blogger Eric Black reported that Paulose was being investigated by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for allegedly mishandling classified information and threatening to replace the employee who told her about it. She also allegedly retaliated against some staffers and made racist remarks about one worker.
"It is an issue of concern," Coleman, R-Minn., said in a telephone interview Monday.
In the meeting with Mukasey, he said, "I will certainly raise the issue of oversight and training, and will push him to make sure that there's a full understanding of what's happening there."
Coleman said he wanted to ensure the allegations were thoroughly reviewed and investigated.
"One of my concerns with the former attorney general was that he didn't have the capacity to have his eye on the ball because he was so embroiled in congressional subpoenas and responses, that I worried about the impact it was having on the management of the system," said Coleman, referring to Alberto Gonzales, who recently resigned as attorney general.
"With Mukasey, I want to make sure that systems are intact, and that when concerns are raised, that they're quickly and fully reviewed."
Paulose's office did not immediately return telephone messages left Monday.
In April, three top supervisors stepped down from their management roles and went back to prosecuting cases, prompting a visit from a high-ranking Justice official. At the time, Coleman, who had championed Paulose's nomination, told her he was "deeply disappointed" to learn of the resignations.
"I don't have all the information on this (latest allegations), but merely the fact that they've been raised, in light of other concerns that have been raised earlier, are of concern to me," Coleman said.
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