38 Comments - Centennial - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm: This whole argument is confusing. Why would one assume a new USA wouldn’t fulfill the duties of his/her office and complete pending cases, driven by facts and evidence? - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:06 pm: I voted yes but I really hope they wait until after John Kass writes his “combine” column about this. - battle of evermore - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:10 pm: This is a thing? A presidential change, especially from one party to another, requires a shift change like this? Who knew? - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:13 pm: ===This is a thing? === Has been for quite a long while. Centuries. US Attorneys are political appointees. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:19 pm: Voted “yes”. Why? If the question is about process, then yes, resign, then the process to be reappointed, through the traditions of the conferring with senators, and deference. Then, of course, doing this, will be seen as “rigged” by those Kass-like, child-like, folks not seeing process and outcome as a norm. - dbk - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:20 pm: Voted “no,” this is how it’s done - Presidents request and receive the resignations of all US Attorneys. The investigation in question is already far advanced and can certainly be assumed by the new appointee. It’s not worth it for Durbin and Duckworth to protest this issue when the state needs so much more (cf. that $3 billion projected deficit). - Not the Dude - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:22 pm: Voted no. I don’t know John Lausch, but it is Biden’s choice. Why make him mad at Illinois? - Amalia - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:23 pm: No. Biden needs to get out as many Trump appointees as possible. - DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:23 pm: I voted no although would be nice if Biden kept him. The no vote was because it is a Presidential prerogative. People go crazy when they get fired but serve at the will of a President. That is as it should be and as is said d elections have consequences I also believe a President should have right to name his cabinet. If they screw up it reflects on President - Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:26 pm: Yes. I trust the judgement of Illinois Senators on this topic. - Fav Human - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:29 pm: If they are serious, yes. If not, why bother to make that press release? - Lurker - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:32 pm: Voted no. Get all out and then he can apply/ask for the position. - Question - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:33 pm: I guess it is ok to make job recommendations if you put them in a press release - Keyrock - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:48 pm: If Lausch is kept on for a while, that’s fine. He’s done a very good job. Keeping him would promote public confidence in the result of the Madigan investigation — whether or not he’s charged. But there are also many qualified people who would make great U.S. Attorneys. They would prosecute Madigan and other prosecution cases as warranted, and would be more in tune with Biden’s DOJ priorities. Some would provide needed diversity to the public face of that office. So while there’s no immediate need to replace John, there’s also no reason to reappoint him. - Moe Berg - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:48 pm: Lausch should go. Anyone who was willing to accept an appointment from Trump needs to show themselves out, repent and ask forgiveness. Also, as best I can tell, we’ve only ever had a white man serve as USA for the Northern District of Illinois. I’d like to see a woman, or a person of color, or both get a chance. Surely a Democratic president and two Democratic senators, one of whom is a woman of color, can come up with a name or two. Surely the Democratic junior senator from Illinois, presuming she intends to seek reelection, might think proposing a person of color could be a smart move. - SouthSide Markie - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:50 pm: There doesn’t seem to be much to debate here because the issue is all but resolved. While the appointment is technically the President’s choice, the long standing tradition has been to defer to the recommendation of the senior senator from the President’s party. President Biden not only has great reverence for the Senate and it’s traditions, but was also a long standing chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee which had jurisdiction of the confirmation of such appointments. He therefore isn’t likely to reject the recommendation of not one, but both of the State’s senators. Plus, it makes no sense for the President to oppose the Democratic Whip and incoming Judiciary Committee chair on a matter of relatively minor importance to him. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:52 pm: === Surely a Democratic president and two Democratic senators, one of whom is a woman of color, can come up with a name or two.=== … and yet those two Senators you cite say they choose Lausch. What, only if the senators choose *anyone but* Lausch are those opinions important? That doesn’t logically play. With respect. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:55 pm: SouthSide Markie is correct as long as Durbin follows through. - AfondoGonz - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:57 pm: Voted no. I don’t trust anyone who allowed themselves to be elevated by the former president. - Golden - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:02 pm: I voted no. Doesn’t make sense to me that Lausch should be given job recommendations by two US Senators to stay on to investigate whether [checks notes] a politician giving job recommendations to get someone a job is criminal. - battle of evermore - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:04 pm: ===this is a thing?=== that was snark. Unsurprisingly, there’s some hypocrisy developing…. https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/11/politics/bharara-not-resigning/index.html - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:07 pm: ===some hypocrisy developing=== Did you even read that story you linked? lol - Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:13 pm: Voted no…simply because Trump. - walker - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:22 pm: Yes Why not press your opinion? The Pres will do what he wants anyway. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:22 pm: Voted “no” but I really don’t care one way or another. In general, our US A’s have been above politics (even during trump) and have done good work. But this is a typical process and Biden should have his people in place. @SoutSide MArkie nailed it, Biden will likely defer to Durbin on any recommendation. They have a good relationship and Biden is a Senate traditionalist. - @misterjayem - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:23 pm: “Anyone who was willing to accept an appointment from Trump needs to show themselves out, repent and ask forgiveness.” Trump appointed Dr. Anthony Fauci to the White House Coronavirus Task Force — you want him out, too? – MrJM - Pizza Man - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:31 pm: Yes, in agreement with SouthSide Markie. Look, folks, of all the Senate Dems, President Biden will most definitely consult primarily with the chair of the Judiciary Committee as he at one point served as chair. Southside Markie: you get a slice of Pizza.. - Pizza Man - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:35 pm: Just because an individual serving in our government is Trump-era appointees, it does not make the officeholder, such as US Attorney Lausch, less qualified, corrupt, or incompetent. Political affiliation and ideology should be placed aside. - Just Another Anon - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:49 pm: “I trust the judgement of Illinois Senators on this topic.” Senator Roland Burris would have been gratified to hear that. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:50 pm: === Senator Roland Burris=== Narrator: Roland Burris is not currently a senator from Illinois - Annonin' - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:01 pm: Didn’t tge gullible already call forvhik to stay? Rumor is he is heading to private practice - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:02 pm: Caterpillar. - Not a Superstar - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:03 pm: I voted no. The feds taking on political corruption is bipartisan. A Biden-appointed US Attorney will pursue these cases vigorously. - anon2 - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:07 pm: Trump changed US attorneys. Biden is entitled to do the same. - Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:20 pm: While Southside Markie is indeed correct on the facts, I voted no, principally for the reasons that Keyrock enunciated and primarily because a new appointee would be more in line with Biden’s DOJ principles and making that office less the province of white men - Bigtwich - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:23 pm: No. Their statement, “We believe Mr. Lausch should be permitted to continue in his position until his successor is confirmed by the Senate. . .” goes far enough. - Colin O'Scopy - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 5:14 pm: Asking for ones resignation and having said resignation accepted are two different things. I will concede that President Biden did omit a couple of US Attorneys from the demand, but still. - Corn Country - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 6:24 pm: If the two Senators are asking to retain it would seem Biden would honor their preference. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.