Are we finally going to get to answer the question concerning what role members of the Bush Administration played in the firing of nine (9) Federal Judges for being unwilling to prosecute Democrats? 

A 390-page report issued this morning by Investigators probing the firing of nine U.S. attorneys concluded that top Justice Department officials "abdicated their responsibility" by failing to supervise subordinates who carried out the botched plan.

The investigation uncovered "significant evidence" that partisan political factors played a role in some of the 2006 dismissals. Particularly "troubling," according to the report, was the sacking of New Mexico U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias after several Republican elected officials complained about voter fraud and public corruption cases he pursued. That episode raises the possibility that obstruction of justice and wire fraud laws were violated.

It is unfortunate that Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine and Office of Professional Responsibility Director H. Marshall Jarrett, who had been investigating the basis for the dismissals for 18 months are not authorized to convene a Grand Jury or issue supoenas which, once again, allows the culprits to escapes answering for their actions.

As a result, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey selected a veteran federal prosecutor to continue the inquiry, focusing on whether department officials, including former attorney general Alberto R. Gonzales, Karl Rove and other members of the Bush Administration misled Congress after the firings came to light last year.

Mukasey selected Connecticut Acting U.S. Attorney Nora R. Dannehy, a federal prosecutor for 17 years, to answer the lingering questions. Dannehy will report to the department’s second in command. Her investigation likely will extend for months, ensuring that the politically charged issue will extend into the next administration.

The report concluded that Gonzales’ chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, was the person most responsible for developing the plan to fire the prosecutors and said that Sampson’s comments to Congress, the White House and others were misleading.

The report singled out the removal of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in New Mexico — one of the nine — as the most troubling. A leading Republican political figure in New Mexico, Sen. Pete Domenici, had complained about Iglesias’ handling of voter fraud and public corruption cases, and that led to his firing, the report said.

Investigators said their inquiry of the firings was hampered by the lack of cooperation from Domenici, former White House adviser Karl Rove, former White House counsel Harriet Miers, former Justice Department official Monica Goodling and other key witnesses.

The president’s refusal to let Rove, Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten testify before Congress about the firings touched off a legal fight that is now before a federal appeals court.

At least 4 dismissals were political, officials conclude

1) Bud Cummins, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas:

Investigators found no basis for reports that Cummins was removed because he was "lazy." "The main reason for Cummins’ removal, and the timing for his removal, was to provide a position for former White House employee (Timothy) Griffin."