THE BORDER REPORT

In December 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice released a quiet statement that the U.S. Attorney for Arizona, Paul K. Charlton, was resigning. He was taking a position with a private law firm, the release stated. What they didn't tell us was that the bosses in Washington D.C. ordered him to resign.

In a frank conversation with The Border Report, the former U.S. prosecutor talks about the resignation of the man who fired him, the direction the Department of Justice should go in now, and his own future in the legal arena.

No reason was given for his termination, only accusations of "repeated instances of defiance, insubordination." Only later was it discovered that Charlton was one of seven U.S. Attorneys fired by the Justice Department under Alberto Gonzales, a political purge of federal prosecutors who weren't toeing the Party Line.

Q: I’ve heard it said that Gonzales lacked the experience to hold the position he was appointed to. What are your thoughts? CHARLTON: If he’d understood what it means to seek the death penalty personally, that would have helped him. He needed to have spent time in the courtroom. That’s not a requirement, but this individual would have benefited from that experience. Q: What was your reaction to his resignation? CHARLTON: I was pleased that he was doing the right thing. I have a tremendous affection for the Department of Justice. I was there for more than 16 years. I knew that career individuals working there were distracted, and constantly wondering what the new news cycle would bring. Now there’s an opportunity for those career professionals to go back and do their job without worrying about that sort of news coming from Washington. Q: How did the allegations against Gonzales affect his standing? CHARLTON: I think it was such an extraordinary distraction. One of the most valuable assets that you carry into the courtroom is your credibility. When the Department of Justice itself is attacked for its lack of credibility because of issues affecting its leadership – that affects everyone. That’s why it was right for him to step down now. Q: What do you think about (Homeland Security Secretary) Michael Chertoff replacing Gonzales? CHARLTON: If Michael takes over, it’ll be a good thing for the DoJ. This is a man who’s served as a U.S. Attorney and as a judge. He’d be a good asset and he is someone who understands the culture. It doesn’t have to be Michael Chertoff, but someone with that experience right now would benefit the department tremendously.

Q: Let’s talk about you for a moment. Any chance that you might return to the Justice Department in the future? CHARLTON: When I left my position as assistant U.S. Attorney to become a political appointee, I knew my day would come. I just didn’t think it would come like this. It’s past and now it’s on to the next point in my career.

Q: It’s been said that Paul Charlton should run for public office. Will you? CHARLTON: I’ve got two young boys I want to raise and I want to do well in this occupation.

Q: Overall, how did you feel working with Gonzales? CHARLTON: I have my opinions about Mr. Gonzales. It’s difficult and maybe even impossible for me to be objective about him. So I keep those opinions to myself.

Among the reasons suspected for Charlton's termination:

• – His investigation into beleaguered Republican Congresman Rick Renzi for a real estate scam. Renzi became a favorite of the Bush Administration which stumped for him in the newly-created Congressional District One race in 2002.
• – Refusing to seek the death penalty in the murder trial of an Arizona methamphetamine dealer, Jose Rios Rico. Investigators lacked a weapon, DNA or the victim’s body. The corpse was buried in a landfill; the Justice Department balked at paying the $500,000 to $1 million to have it recovered.
• – I personally suspect that Charlton's refusal to use FBI informants involved in the rape of a prostitute during Operation Lively Green first raised the hackles of the Justice Department. It's important to note that the investigation was conducted under John Ashcroft's reign but the case was vaunted as the largest public corruption investigation in the history of the FBI.

Appointed by the Bush Administration two months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Charlton established several national security initiatives to protect U.S. transportation, energy and computer infrastructures. Among his other recognitions:

• – His Victim Advocate program was held up as a model program for its protections of crime victims.
• – Ranked in the top third of U.S. Attorneys for prosecutions.
• – Ranked in the top third for successful prosecutions.
• – Ranked in the top 20 offices for narco-prosecutions.

• Michael Marizco