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Jun 19, 2007 11:22 am US/Central
Paulose Fills Top Jobs In U.S. Attorney's Office
Minneapolis (AP) ―
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Rachel Paulose was appointed U.S. attorney after Tom Heffelfinger resigned from the job in February 2006. (File)
CBS
Three veterans in the U.S. attorney's office have been named to management posts that were abruptly vacated in April when the former supervisors announced they would return to prosecuting cases.
Jeff Paulsen, who has been with the office for 19 years, became chief of the Criminal Division after the resignations. Frank Magill, a 17-year veteran, agreed to serve as first assistant U.S. attorney. Greg Brooker, who has eight years with the office, recently became chief of the Civil Division.
"All three are in-house, seasoned veterans who are well respected in their areas of practice," said U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose. "We continue to focus on the mission of the office."
The vacancies resulted when three attorneys quit their supervisory roles amid reports that they were unhappy with Paulose's management style.
All three former supervisors went back to prosecuting cases. John Marti had been first assistant U.S. attorney, Erika Mozangue headed the Civil Division, and James Lackner headed the Criminal Division.
Their moves prompted an official from Washington to visit Minnesota to try to resolve the situation. John Kelly, formerly chief of staff in the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, came at Paulose's request. He returned to Washington a week later and has since resigned.
Paulose was appointed U.S. attorney after Tom Heffelfinger resigned from the job in February 2006.
Congressional committees are looking into whether the Department of Justice was planning to fire Heffelfinger for political reasons. Heffelfinger's name was on lists of U.S. attorneys targeted for dismissal, but Heffelfinger maintains he left on his own. The matter is still being investigated.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
