Effects of Bush's corrupt Justice Department being felt here

Up until now Colorado U.S. Attorney Troy Eid has managed to steer clear of the controversies that have been swirling about the thoroughly corrupt Bush Justice Department. Today though we find out that Eid hired First Assistant U.S. Attorney Clif Stricklin after getting the all clear from the DOJ that Stricklin was a loyal Republican,

Former Justice Department official Monica Goodling interviewed attorney Cliff Stricklin, then recommended him for the job of first assistant U.S. attorney in Colorado because he was politically suitable, a Justice Department investigation found.

Stricklin, now in private practice with the Denver firm Holland & Hart, is best known for leading the prosecution team in the federal insider-trading case against former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio.

The report says Goodling interviewed Stricklin in July 2006 and indicated in an e-mail to Colorado U.S. Attorney Troy Eid that Stricklin was "on the team" — words the Justice Department report says were Goodling's code for politically conservative individuals.

Goodling wrote to Eid as he assumed office in 2006 that he "really needs someone to go into the office with him that is on the team, has statute (sic), fed pros experience and white collar trial experience . . . (Stricklin) meets all the specs."

The Justice Department investigation determined that was improper.

"We concluded that Good ling solicited political information from, and then described in ideological terms, a candidate whom she recommended for a career position," the report says.

Eid is denying that the hire was politically motivated. With, likely, just a few months left in Eid's term as U.S. Attorney he has probably dodged any major embarrassments but being employed by the corrupt Bush DOJ probably leads to some sleepless nights, who knows what's hiding under that next rock?