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Question of the day

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Illinois

* We’ve already discussed the report that almost all US Attorneys, including John Lausch, have been told to submit their resignations.

* The Question: Should Illinois’ Democratic Senators get around this by recommending that President Biden appoint Lausch to another term? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…

survey tools

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 12:58 pm

Comments

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?

Comment by Centennial Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:05 pm
I voted yes but I really hope they wait until after John Kass writes his “combine” column about this.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:06 pm
This is a thing?

A presidential change, especially from one party to another, requires a shift change like this?

Who knew?

Comment by battle of evermore Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:10 pm
===This is a thing? ===

Has been for quite a long while. Centuries. US Attorneys are political appointees.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:13 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.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:19 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).

Comment by dbk Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:20 pm
Voted no. I don’t know John Lausch, but it is Biden’s choice. Why make him mad at Illinois?

Comment by Not the Dude Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:22 pm
No. Biden needs to get out as many Trump appointees as possible.

Comment by Amalia 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

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:23 pm
Yes. I trust the judgement of Illinois Senators on this topic.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:26 pm
If they are serious, yes. If not, why bother to make that press release?

Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:29 pm
Voted no. Get all out and then he can apply/ask for the position.

Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:32 pm
I guess it is ok to make job recommendations if you put them in a press release

Comment by Question Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:33 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.

Comment by Keyrock 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.

Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:48 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.

Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:50 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.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:52 pm
SouthSide Markie is correct as long as Durbin follows through.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:55 pm
Voted no. I don’t trust anyone who allowed themselves to be elevated by the former president.

Comment by AfondoGonz Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 1:57 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.

Comment by Golden Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:02 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

Comment by battle of evermore Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:04 pm
===some hypocrisy developing===

Did you even read that story you linked? lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:07 pm
Voted no…simply because Trump.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:13 pm
Yes Why not press your opinion? The Pres will do what he wants anyway.

Comment by walker 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.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:22 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

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:23 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..

Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:31 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.

Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:35 pm
“I trust the judgement of Illinois Senators on this topic.”

Senator Roland Burris would have been gratified to hear that.

Comment by Just Another Anon Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:49 pm
=== Senator Roland Burris===

Narrator: Roland Burris is not currently a senator from Illinois

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 2:50 pm
Didn’t tge gullible already call forvhik to stay? Rumor is he is heading to private practice

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:01 pm
Caterpillar.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:02 pm
I voted no. The feds taking on political corruption is bipartisan. A Biden-appointed US Attorney will pursue these cases vigorously.

Comment by Not a Superstar Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:03 pm
Trump changed US attorneys. Biden is entitled to do the same.

Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:07 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

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:20 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.

Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 3:23 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.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 5:14 pm
If the two Senators are asking to retain it would seem Biden would honor their preference.

Comment by Corn Country Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 6:24 pm