Bloch shut down Siegelman investigation?

I suggest that Karl Rove and Noel Hillman not stray too far from home in the near future. For whatever reason - either because Bush wants to leave office with at least one scandal resolved or what - But Mukasey's DOJ/FBI may actually be doing their job on this one:

"WASHINGTON (AP) ” The U.S. Office of Special Counsel last year shut down a previously undisclosed investigation into the federal prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, according to an internal memo made public Wednesday.

The investigation was being conducted by a task force formed at the agency a year ago to pursue high-profile political investigations in Washington, most notably whether the White House played politics in firing U.S. attorneys. It began gathering information on the Siegelman case in September and was planning to request documents from the Justice Department in October before Special Counsel Scott Bloch ordered the case closed, according to the Jan. 18 draft memo, made public by the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.

The investigation was one of many that the task force had taken up, and the memo shows that Bloch frequently differed with investigators about which cases to pursue.

<snip>

An attorney for Bloch, who himself is under a federal investigation, declined comment. But a person familiar with the origins of the POGO draft document said the decision to not pursue Siegelman or other cases stemmed mostly from a shortage of time and resources. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

Siegelman, a Democrat, said the memo suggests further political interference in his case and reiterated his call for the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to take up the matter.

"The question is who told them to shut it down," Siegelman said Wednesday when told of the memo. "Why would you start an investigation and let it proceed and then shut it down? The logical conclusion is that somebody intervened and told them to shut down the investigation."

Siegelman has long claimed that Republicans engineered his prosecution on bribery and other corruption charges to kill his chances for re-election, a claim repeatedly denied by federal prosecutors. His attorneys requested earlier this year that the Justice Department appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether White House appointees in Washington, including former Bush adviser Karl Rove, influenced the case. Rove also has denied any involvement.

The Special Counsel's office is an independent agency charged with investigating unlawful political activity by government employees and ensuring that government whistle-blowers are not subjected to reprisals."

Who would have the authority to tell Bloch to shut down the investigation? Guesses? You only get one. One more point, what are the odds that Bloch is being thrown on his sword to stop the bleeding upward in the chain of command? Okay, I think it time me and Scott Horton won the Pulitzer for our reporting on this case.

Comments

[Charles]

I'll second the nomination.

All in favor say "Aye!"

[lucy]

Yes on the Pulitzer. As an Alabamian who voted for Gov. Siegelman, I thank you for the difficult and important work you do. It has been easy to lose heart over these bush years. Real journalists, of which there are few, will save this country. Count yourself in that small company.

[Melissa]

I think it's time you and Horton got a Pulitzer, too. Set your teeth, and keep at it!