U.S. Attorneys scandal: Alberto Gonzales fires federal prosecutors for alleged political reasons

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales authorizes the dismissal of at least eight U.S. Attorneys, ostensibly for performance reasons. The firings trigger investigations revealing the dismissals were primarily motivated by political loyalty and prosecutorial independence concerns. Federal prosecutors had been removed for refusing to pursue politically motivated cases or declining to prosecute political rivals. The scandal raises urgent questions about DOJ independence, civil service protections, and the politicization of federal law enforcement. Subsequent investigations reveal improper political influence on hiring and firing decisions. The scandal forces Gonzales to resign in 2007 and leads to Congressional criticism of the administration's attack on prosecutorial independence.