{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-calls-attention-unethical-practices-eastern-district-us-attorney%E2%80%99s-office", "Rep. Richmond Calls Attention to Unethical Practices in Eastern District U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office", "2013-09-24", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA), sent the following letter to Attorney General Eric Holder calling on the Department of Justice to continue their investigation into the unethical behavior of senior attorneys in the United States Attorney\u2019s Office for the\u00a0Eastern District of Louisiana. In this letter, Rep. Richmond emphasizes that Kenneth Polite, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the District, should not begin his role burdened by investigating his staff. Rep. Richmond sent letters on March 21, 2012 requesting a thorough investigation as well as on November 15, 2012.\nSeptember 24, 2013\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.  \n\tAttorney General of the United States  \n\tU.S. Department of Justice  \n\t950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20530  \n\t\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDear Attorney General Holder,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I write you once again about what has been discovered to be pervasive, unethical behavior by senior attorneys in the United States Attorney\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (the Office).\u00a0 In a letter my colleagues and I sent to you on March 21, 2012, we requested a thorough investigation of misconduct after it was revealed that a senior litigation attorney had been commenting online about ongoing investigations.\u00a0 We explained to you that the misconduct could have a severe and lasting impact on the administration of justice, and that absent a full investigation, the public\u2019s trust would be eroded.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On November 15, 2012, given the disturbing news that the Office\u2019s First Assistant had also commented online about ongoing cases, I again wrote to you with significant concerns about the slow pace of the Office of Professional Responsibility\u2019s investigation.\u00a0 I was pleased when in the following month you appointed John A. Horn to lead an investigation into the matter.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, the ten month investigation by Mr. Horn has culminated in a scathing order by District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt that grants a new trial for police officers accused of killing unarmed civilians after Hurricane Katarina.\u00a0 The Engelhardt order also calls into question the thoroughness of investigations of grand jury leaks and online commenting within the Office and raises serious questions about the veracity with which the former leadership of the Office was communicating with courts and the public.\u00a0 Nevertheless, there are considerable improprieties that remain unexamined.\u00a0 I am distressed by Judge Engelhardt\u2019s statement that \u201cmuch is still not known about the nature and extent of government activities similar to those reflected herein.\u201d\u00a0 Going further, the Court discloses that it has \u201cseen the government omit pertinent facts, [and] conceal material information\u2026\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As you know, Kenneth Polite was recently confirmed by the Senate to serve as our new United States Attorney for the New Orleans region. The shadow of impropriety that continues to cloak this office will make it very difficult to administer the Office with the highest level of public support and credibility. Further, as his first order of business, Mr. Polite should not be tasked with investigating his staff and predecessors for these misdeeds.\u00a0 That is why it is imperative that you expand the ongoing investigation and empower it with independent prosecutorial power to make all relevant facts public and bring any breach of law to light.\u00a0 The first step in the process should be for DOJ to make public Mr. Horn\u2019s reports filed in U.S. v. Kenneth Bowen, et al.\u00a0 In addition, I urge you give Mr. Polite the flexibility to quickly staff his office with seasoned prosecutors free from the taint of this ongoing investigation.\u00a0\u00a0 \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I do not hold you or the Obama Administration responsible for the actions of rogue attorneys, but I do demand accountability and transparency in DOJ\u2019s response and investigation. What I have seen thus far is woefully inadequate and it is time for there to be a public accounting.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Respectfully,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cedric L. Richmond  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Member of Congress\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\ncc:\u00a0 Kenneth Polite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-calls-attention-unethical-practices-eastern-district-us-attorney%E2%80%99s-office"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.726668793708086, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}