Topic: Monica Goodling

Monica Marie Goodling (born August 6, 1973) is a former United States government lawyer and political appointee in the George W. Bush administration who became known in 2007 in the midst of a political controversy surrounding the firings of several United States attorneys. She was the principal deputy director of public affairs for the United States Department of Justice, serving under attorney general John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales. She has no direct family relationship to the former United States representative William F. Goodling.

Goodling, a conservative Christian, was a 1991 graduate of Northeastern High School in Manchester, Pennsylvania, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Messiah College. After completing her bachelor's degree, Goodling continued her education at American University, but she then transferred to the Regent University Law School, where she received her Juris Doctor degree in 1999. Regent University was founded by Pat Robertson as Christian Broadcasting Network University. U.S. News & World Report ranks Regent University School of Law as a Tier 4 law school, the lowest ranking within the law school category.

Goodling worked alongside Tim Griffin as an opposition researcher for the Republican National Committee during the 2000 presidential campaign. She joined the Department of Justice's press office after George W. Bush became president. She moved to the department's executive office, which is responsible for budgeting, management, personnel management and evaluation, later becoming deputy director of the executive office. Goodling was hired by U.S. attorney Mary Beth Buchanan to work in the executive office.