Another of the three candidates for Colorado U.S. attorney bowed out Thursday, saying the year-long selection process has gone on too long.
Troy Eid, a lawyer and former counsel to Gov. Bill Owens, said he was no longer interested in pursuing the job.
“I would simply say the process has taken too long,” he said. “It has affected my family and clients, and I think it’s the best move.”
Eid’s withdrawal, which follows a similar announcement in December by veteran prosecutor Stu VanMeveren, underscores a growing frustration over the delay in appointing a top federal prosecutor in Colorado.
“Clearly, the process has taken its toll,” said Sean Conway, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, who has played a prominent role in the nomination process.
Conway called the lengthy delay in selecting a new U.S. attorney “an embarrassment” and said he expects that the Bush administration will want additional nominees to consider.
Eid said Thursday that the decision had nothing to do with the scandal involving Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist who worked for Greenberg Traurig. Eid works for the same law firm in its Denver office.
Abramoff, who recently pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery charges, and Eid worked in divisions that represented American Indian tribes. Eid said he joined the firm around the time Abramoff was fired by Greenberg Traurig and never worked with him.
In fact, Eid said he has been appointed to an internal committee at Greenberg Traurig that is dedicated to examining the scandal and recommending safeguards to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
“Needless to say, I was selected for that because I don’t have an Abramoff problem,” Eid said.
Eid’s withdrawal coincides with his wife being under consideration for two important judgeships. Colorado Solicitor General Allison Eid is a candidate for positions on the 10th U.S. Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court.
Having a top federal prosecutor and a top-level state or federal judge as a married couple could pose, at the very least, the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Eid’s departure from the race means Jim Peters, a career state prosecutor for the 18th Judicial District, which includes Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Lincoln counties, remains the sole candidate right now.
The process began more than a year ago when John Suthers announced he was leaving the U.S. attorney job to become Colorado’s attorney general.
As is customary, Allard, as Colorado’s senior senator, had submitted a list of three names for President Bush’s consideration in filling the job.
Typically, the White House and officials from the U.S. Justice Department check the candidates’ backgrounds and conduct interviews before a name is forwarded to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation proceedings.
Allard said recently that he wasn’t sure why the White House was dragging its feet and assumed there would be new names put forward.
White House representatives have said only that it’s an ongoing process. However, it also has been a busy year for presidential appointments, including the filling of the U.S. attorney general position and two U.S. Supreme Court vacancies.
Right now, the Colorado job is being filled by Bill Leone, who had been the first assistant U.S. attorney under Suthers. Leone is said to be interested in filling the job permanently with a presidential appointment.
Staff writer Karen Crummy contributed to this report.
Staff writer Alicia Caldwell can be reached at 303-820-1930 or acaldwell@denverpost.com.
