U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. shining the spotlight on voter suppression and the politization of US attorneys.

In a letter sent Thursday to Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, Klobuchar wrote she is concerned about a news report indicating Heffelfinger may have been targeted after his office raised concerns about a law that could have discriminated against American Indian voters.

The report, in Thursday's edition of the Los Angeles Times, indicates former Justice official Bradley Schlozman essentially prevented any investigation into Heffelfinger's concerns.

Schlozman is scheduled to testify before the committee Tuesday. In her letter, Klobuchar asked that Leahy question Schlozman about "his efforts to effectively quash the investigation into possible voter discrimination against Native Americans; and (ii) what role, if any, Tom Heffelfinger's efforts to protect the voting rights of Minnesota's Native American communities placed him on the Department's now infamous list for termination."

Rachel Paulose, the current US attorney for the district, had no comment. Ms. Paulose is a Katherine Harris wannabe.

Rachel K. Paulose’s swearing in on March 9 as the United States attorney in Minneapolis stirred debate in local legal circles because of the ceremonial trappings, including a performance by a municipal choir and a Marine Corps color guard, at the event attended by more than 300 people at the city’s University of St. Thomas law school.

Rachel K. Paulose has drawn criticism since her swearing-in ceremony last month as the United States attorney in Minneapolis.

But the complaints about Ms. Paulose’s investiture seem mild in comparison with the uproar ignited on Thursday, when three of her top deputies stepped down from their leadership positions. Several of their associates described the action as a protest over what the three deputies regarded as Ms. Paulose’s ideologically driven and dictatorial managerial style.

If you recall, Rachel Paulose was one of the first US attorney replacements appointed during the purge. As a Yalie and a senior aide to Paul McNulty, she must have been at the top of the loyalty list. The first two or three replacements (the initial report that I read said that 11 attorneys were replaced) were appointed with Senate approval. I was right about the eleven. The other three (11-8) had already resigned:

Paul Warner of Utah resigned January 27, 2006.

Thomas Heffelfinger of Minnesota resigned February 28, 2006.

Todd Graves of Missouri resigned March 24, 2006.

Is it too much to hope that someone will shine the spotlight on Utah? What happened to Paul Warner, the replaced US attorney who was re-confirmed to his position in 2003? Yes indeedy, the DoJ serves at the pleasure of the president.  ¶ 9:33 AM