TPM: Is This Monica Goodling?

I am hereby submitting my resignation to the Office of the Attorney General, effective April 7, 2007. It has been an honor to have served at the Department of Justice for the past five years. May God bless you richly as you continue your service to America.

But it's clear to me, particular after listening to Josh, that her resignation was most likely pre-emptive to avoid being fired if she refused to participate in the DOJ's own internal probe into possible Hatch Act Violations.

Updated 1:51 4-7-07:

The Hatch Act restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, District of Columbia government and some  state and local employees who work in connection with federally funded programs.  In 1993, Congress passed legislation that significantly amended the Hatch Act as it applies to federal and D.C. employees (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326).  (These amendments did not change the provisions that apply to state and local employees. 5 U.S.C. §§ 1501- 1508.) Under the amendments most federal and D.C. employees are now permitted to take an active part in political management and political campaigns.  A small group of federal employees are subject to greater restrictions and continue to be prohibited from engaging in partisan political management and partisan political campaigns.

Those employees subject to increased restrictions on political activities include those working at:

. Central Intelligence Agency
. Criminal Division (Department of Justice)
. Federal Bureau of Investigation
. Federal Election Commission
. Office of Special Counsel
. National Security Agency
. National Security Council

The situation has become so bad, that even Newt Gingrich has stated that Alberto Gonzales has to go.

"The public would be much better served to have another attorney general," said Newt Gingrich. "I cannot imagine how he’s going to be effective for the rest of his administration. They’re going to be involved in endless hearings."

Vyan