White House backs off Miers claim

WASHINGTON, March 16 (UPI) -- The Bush administration Friday backed off claims former White House Counsel Harriet Miers was the only backer of a plan to fire all 93 U.S. attorneys.

Tony Snow, President Bush's spokesman, said that it is unclear who originated the plan, CNN reported.

"It has been described as her idea, but ... I don't want to try to vouch for origination," Snow said. "At this juncture, people have hazy memories."

The Justice Department released e-mail messages that Kyle Sampson, then counselor to Attorney General John Ashcroft, recommended removing "underperforming" U.S. prosecutors while retaining "loyal Bushies."

The messages were part of correspondence in early 2005 between Justice Department officials and the White House, the Washington Post reported.

"We would like to replace 15-20 percent of the current U.S. Attorneys -- the underperforming ones," Sampson wrote to the White House counsel's office. "The vast majority of U.S. Attorneys, 80-85 percent, I would guess, are doing a great job, are loyal Bushies, etc., etc."

However, referring of a plan to fire all U.S. attorneys, Sampson wrote: "That said, if Karl (Rove) thinks there would be political will to do it, then so do I."

The messages indicate an early involvement by Rove in the plan to fire the attorneys. One of the messages reveals that Rove asked the White House counsel's office in January 2005 whether it planned to go forward with the firings.