The Bush administration has had a busy and distracting year, but it’s past time for appointing a permanent U.S. attorney for Colorado.
It’s been almost a year since the jockeying began for what many consider to be a plum political appointment. The job became available last December when John Suthers was appointed to replace Ken Salazar as Colorado attorney general.
Shortly after that, Republican Sen. Wayne Allard nominated three experienced, politically connected lawyers for the spot. Yet somehow, an important position for Colorado has gotten lost in the shuffle of Bush’s dismal year. Next week, acting U.S. Attorney William Leone will be named “interim permanent” U.S. attorney – a required legal move that basically extends his temporary status.
A U.S. attorney and his staff represent the federal government in district court and are part of the Department of Justice. The nomination, and confirmation, of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales earlier this year was thought to have slowed the process for Colorado and other federal districts.
It’s been frustrating for Allard, even though his chief of staff, Sean Conway, remains optimistic that one of the three they put forward will be selected. They expect to hear something “in the near future,” he said. “We continue to work with the White House. Two weeks ago they said they hoped to send up a nomination shortly.”
Persistent rumors in Colorado political circles say the Bush administration was underwhelmed with the three choices, but Conway has denied that.
The candidates are Troy Eid, former legal counsel to Gov. Bill Owens; Jim Peters, former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District; and Stu VanMeveren, who was district attorney for the 8th Judicial District for 32 years.
Colorado isn’t alone in playing the waiting game, which also should put some of those rumors to rest.
Colorado is one of 15 U.S. attorney’s offices being led by interim chiefs. (Larger states have multiple federal judicial districts, each with a U.S. attorney.) Allard figures the nominations of U.S. attorneys for several districts will be packaged so they can be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee together.
Once a nomination is made, there’s the task of confirming that person, so it’s safe to say Colorado likely will ring in the new year without a permanent U.S. attorney.
The Bush administration shouldn’t drag its feet any longer.
