DoJ expands probe of Gonzales aides

WASHINGTON, May 25 (UPI) -- U.S. investigators have widened a probe into whether aides to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales improperly considered politics in Justice Department hiring.

The Justice Department's inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility expanded their investigation after former department official Monica Goodling told Congress Wednesday she had taken politics into account in hiring immigration judges, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The Justice Department said it could find no record to support Goodling's claim that department officials had approved taking politics into account when screening job applicants, the newspaper said.

Goodling is being investigated for possible violations of federal civil service rules and department policy.

Also on Friday, McClatchy Newspapers reported that controversy surrounding last year's dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys appears to be discouraging the filing of applications for some of the 22 prosecutor posts that President George W. Bush needs to fill.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the White House is committed to nominating candidates for all 22 open positions, but the administration has submitted only four nominees, McClatchy said.