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Lausch will be retained until successor confirmed

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Illinois

* Press release…

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was reported that the Biden Justice Department will retain John Lausch as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois until his successor is confirmed. Durbin and Duckworth first voiced their desire to retain Mr. Lausch until his successor is confirmed in November 2020. On February 9, they wrote a letter to the President renewing this request.

“We are pleased the Biden Administration is acting on our request to retain U.S. Attorney Lausch until his successor is confirmed by the Senate. Mr. Lausch has served with professionalism and without partisanship. While the President has the right to remove U.S. Attorneys, there is precedent for U.S. Attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois to remain in office to conclude sensitive investigations. After our repeated calls, we appreciate that Mr. Lausch will be given this opportunity.”

No word on whether they intend to push Lausch for another term.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 3:40 pm

Comments

Waiting for Rodney Davis and Darin LeHood to take the credit for Lausch being retained in 3..2..

Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 3:44 pm
Glad to know Senate staff feels like it’s still 2020 too.

Comment by AndyJD Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 3:44 pm
=to conclude sensitive investigations=

13th ward phones are ringing

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 3:59 pm
Unless they push him for another term seems like it is just window dressing

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 3:59 pm
Former state rep. Scott’Federal Prosecutor’Drury may be interested in the nomination?

Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 4:15 pm
so who is the former who wishes to come back? Fardon?

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 4:20 pm
Lausch has performed extremely well in his position. He not only should be retained, but he should be reappointed by the President. As chairman of the Judicial Committee of the Senate, I am sure Durbin can push for reappointment.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 4:38 pm
Louis: though highly qualified as U.S. Attorney, it seems like President Biden is adamant about having his own team on board, but giving a ‘courtesy’ pass to Judiciary chairman Durbin after this back-and-forth snafu on this officeholder.

Highly doubt Mr. Lausch will be re-nominated for round 2.

Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 4:46 pm
Caterpillar.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 4:51 pm
Was Caterpillar Lausch, i thought it was Central Illinois?

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 5:51 pm
Louis: lol. We can all name 20 qualified, impartial candidates who weren’t first nominated by Donald Trump.

Comment by Not a Superstar Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 6:02 pm
Frankly this move surprises me. When it comes time to put up names for the next U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois, if you hear a buzz of press coverage that the next guy should focus more on “violent street gangs” and “drug cartels” expect that to really mean no more political investigations, and Mike Madigan will not be prosecuted.

That language was thrown around when Patrick Fitzgerald left and Zach Fardon was appointed. In Chicago and Cook, real federal prosecutors show up in 50-year cycles.

Comment by Payback Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 6:14 pm
I completely disagree about focus on violent street gangs and drug cartels as code for no more political investigations. A Fed pal constantly compares N Indiana and N Illinois. In Indiana they are much better at using Federal resources to focus on crime. It’s how fast they attack. Since the number of murders has skyrocketed in Chicago, Federal resources focusing on that can go on while the case on Com Ed goes on. many things at once.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 6:23 pm
What is this “David W. Marston” protection push all about?

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 8:18 pm
=== I thought it was Central Illinois? ===

It is the central district, but I paint with a broad brush due to the lack of explicitly available public information.

Caterpillar is the other shoe. It could be nothing, but until it becomes a known nothing I think a clean break from the Trump era DOJ is necessary.

The outgoing US Attorney for the Central District of Illinois also didn’t get started until the end of October in 2018, Barr didn’t get started until early 2019.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 8:18 pm
The focus on drug crime language was used by Richie Daley to Janet Reno when Scott Lassar was U.S. Attorney to pressure Lassar to cut resources for corruption cases.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 9:46 pm
– while the case on Com Ed goes on –

“Case on ComEd.” Pay no attention to the Public Official Formerly Known As A, amirite?

Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Feb 23, 21 @ 10:03 pm