Last April, the Justice Department began an investigation regarding the dismissal of a career attorney, Leslie Hagen. There were allegations that Ms. Hagen was dismissed by Monica Goodling because of rumors that she was a lesbian.

This week the department hired Ms. Hagen back.

Monica Goodling was hired by John Ashcroft and then became senior counsel to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and it was she who directed that Ms. Hagen be effectively fired (her “contract was not renewed”), and this after she had blocked her from getting other jobs that she was certainly qualified for. These qualifications are confirmed by the glowing performance evaluations she’s received, and the excellent reviews she’s garnered from those she worked with.

Monica Goodling graduated from Regent University. Regent was founded by Pat Robertson, the right wing Christian fundamentalist televangelist who frequently disparages the GLBT community, and Regent describes itself as “America’s Preeminent Christian University”.

Ms. Goodling is embroiled in the U.S. attorneys controversy, and she resigned because of her admitted illegal use of party affiliation and political ideology in the hiring and firing of Justice Department career employees. She is also responsible for having drapes placed over partially nude statuary at the department (Spirit of Justice) at a cost of $8,000.00 This was so then Attorney General John Ashcroft would not have to be photographed with them.

In her resignation letter to Alberto Gonzales she wrote, “May God bless you richly as you continue your service to America”. She still faces a possible criminal investigation into her actions during the Bush administration.

Ms. Hagen has a large legal bill to pay because she was fired, and under Alberto Gonzales the department refused to pay any of her legal bills. That may change under new Attorney General Eric Holder.

It makes no difference if Ms. Hagen is actually gay or not. What is at issue is the perception that she was gay, the rumors spread about it, and then the use of that perception and those rumors to fire her.

Once again this demonstrates not only the inefficiencies that the Bush administration propagated - Ms. Hagen was an excellent employee and a genuine asset to the department - but the immorality and illegality of utilizing smears and rumors to advance a religious agenda - and in the Justice Department of all places!

~ SamSez

pagemonkey adds this: I wouldn’t have used the word “inefficiencies,” because I feel in many respects the Bush administration’s goal was to generate an inept, confused state of being at many levels of government, with a few top-dog insiders installed here and there to manage things per the administration’s orders, so that certain devious agendas would remain hidden and unmolested. To that end, not renewing Hagen’s contract represents an increase in efficiency, not a decrease. One must remember the goals of whom one is speaking of - a ne’er-do-well rich fratboy, and a pasty-faced troll selfish enough to take a risky hunting shot that results in shooting a friend in his face.