Specter suggests reinstating attorneys

WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter said Sunday that the Justice Department should consider reinstating its eight fired U.S. attorneys to avoid future problems.

The Republican senator and Senate Judiciary Committee member said that upon reviewing the case of the eight former U.S. attorneys, certain troubling aspects in the matter suggest reinstatement may be the best remedy, The New York Times reported.

With revelations arising this weekend regarding a series of alleged White House e-mails about the firings that may have been deleted, Specter urged Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to reinstate the eight.

Gonzales' former chief of staff, D. Kyle Sampson, also recently said that a year prior to the controversial 2006 firings, replacement candidates had been chosen to replace the attorneys.

The Times said that while he encouraged reinstatement, Specter was confident that a deal would be worked out in time to allow top White House aides to be interviewed by the House and Senate judiciary committees.