Rockford guy quits Justice Department

Rockford native Michael Elston, who's been embroiled for months in the controversy over the sacking of eight federal prosecutors, said today that he's resigning his post at the Justice Department.

More on Elston's role in the scandal can be found here (and through links therein).

UPDATE: More on Elston's resignation and the controversies surrounding his actions is available here.

DISCLAIMER: Over the past few months, The Rascal repeatedly has referred to Elston as a "native" of Rockford, following the lead of the Rockford Register Star in that regard. But I've never confirmed independently that Elston was born in Rockford, only that he grew up here and graduated from Auburn High School. At 5:17 p.m. today, the Register Star's Web site omitted any mention of Elston being a native, referring instead to his "local ties" and his having been a "Rockford resident."

Will Michael Elston be charged with perjury?

This guy thinks it's possible.

More on Elston, a Rockford native, is available here and here.

UPDATE: More on Elston's latest woes here.

Rockford guy focus of wider DOJ probe

The Justice Department's inspector general and the department's Office of Professional Responsibility have notified the Senate Judiciary Committee of an expanded investigation into hiring practices at the agency.

The wider probe involves, among other things, allegations of improper practices by Rockford native Michael Elston in the operation of the department's Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program.

Elston, who was chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, already has been questioned by congressional investigators behind closed doors in connection with the controversy over the firing of eight federal prosecutors.

Elston has been accused by several of those cashiered prosecutors of threatening them with retaliation if they made a fuss over their dismissals.

Background on Elston's role in the Attorneygate scandal can be found here and through the links therein.

Will this include the Rockford guy?

Two of the U.S. attorneys whose dismissals from their jobs are part of what's become known as the Prosecutorgate scandal told the Seatlle Times on Wednesday that they expect criminal charges to be brought against certain Justice Department officials.

But apparently neither John McKay of Washington state nor David Iglesias of New Mexico mentioned Rockford native Michael Elston, one of the DOJ officials embroiled in the scandal. Background on Elston's role can be found in this piece and through various links therein.

By the way, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will testify on the matter today before the House Judiciary Committee.

UPDATE: The New York Times reports this morning that Gonzales thinks he'll survive the scandal.

Third fired prosecutor accuses Rockford guy

A third former U.S. attorney has accused Rockford native Michael Elston of warning him not to make a public fuss over his dismissal last year.

Elston, a big shot in the Justice Department, already has testified behind closed doors in a congressional investigation of the Prosecutorgate scandal.

Background stuff on Elston's alleged role in the scandal can be found here and here.

UPDATE: There's more breaking news about Elston here.

UPDATE II: Still more breaking news in Prosecutorgate scandal.