Report: Loyal Bushie Monica Goodling Fired US Attorney on Mistaken Belief Attorney Was Gay

Share article:

Guest blogged by Jon Ponder, Pensito Review.

We reported earlier that a report from the Department of Justice Inspector General confirmed that Monica Goodling, the political hack installed by the GOP at the department, had in fact used an applicant’s status as a “loyal Bushie” as a litmus test for DOJ employment.

Now comes confirmation of a rumor reported on NPR in April that the DOJ IG was also pursuing charges that Goodling had fired a US Attorney because Goodling suspected the woman was gay:

In the second of a series of reports on the politically charged tenure of former Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales, the department’s inspector general found that two former Justice aides used sexual orientation as a litmus test in deciding whom they would hire or fire.

The report describes an alleged “sexual relationship” between a career prosecutor and a U.S. attorney, who were not named. Margaret M. Chiara, the former U.S. attorney in Grand Rapids, Mich., said in an interview with The Times that she now believed she was fired because of the erroneous belief that she was having a relationship with career prosecutor Leslie Hagen.

“I could not begin to understand how I found myself sharing the misfortune of my former colleagues,” Chiara said of the eight other U.S. attorneys who were fired. “Now I understand.”

Justice officials said after her firing that Chiara was let go because of mismanagement and because she had caused morale in her office to sink. Chiara said Monday she believed those concerns were raised by the same people who spread rumors about her and Hagen.

“I guess now I am persuaded with deep regret that this is what was the basis,” she added. “There is nothing else.”

The investigators found that Hagen lost a coveted assignment in Washington after rumors of the supposed relationship reached Gonzales aide Monica M. Goodling.

And:

Monday’s report also said that Goodling used an Internet search that included the words “gay” and “homosexual” to screen candidates and their backgrounds.

Investigators found that Goodling used the same search parameters as Jan Williams, who served as White House liaison before Goodling. The report said that Williams had used the string in late 2005 and early 2006 to research candidates for positions on a national advisory commission on violence against women.

Goodling, a graduate of a college operated by televangelist Pat Robertson, was also found to have nixed the hiring of a terrorism expert because his wife was a Democrat.

Share article:

--- COMMENTS follow below Ad Content ---

Reader Comments on

Report: Loyal Bushie Monica Goodling Fired US Attorney on Mistaken Belief Attorney Was Gay

12 Comments

(Comments are now closed.)


12 Responses

  1. 3)
    DebbieKat said on 7/29/2008 @ 3:50pm PT: [Permalink]

    These people so sicken me. I sincerely hope these people will see some jail time.

  2. 4)
    DebbieKat said on 7/29/2008 @ 3:52pm PT: [Permalink]

    And…

    “Goodling, a graduate of a college operated by televangelist Pat Robertson”

    ugh. Can we somehow prevent people graduating from this school from entering government positions? Yuk.

  3. 6)
    Eve Leland said on 7/29/2008 @ 8:04pm PT: [Permalink]

    Since this report is out and shows proof that many DA’s and judges were hired for political beliefs, wouldn’t it be possible to give us a listing of all those hired under Ashcroft/Gonzalas’ watches….then whenever a Democrat or Indep or “other than rightwing talking points” believer is indicted, they can now immediately demand the recusement of all such unlawfully hired DA’s and judges. It would imediately lighten the load of the DOJ and save lots of money!

  4. 7)
    Steve said on 7/30/2008 @ 6:39am PT: [Permalink]

    I can’t take much more Bushie crap. Empty the White House, fire everyone who even talked to Bush the past ten years, or was hired to serve him, and leave the damned place vacant until Obama wins the presidency. We’d be better off with an empty White House than the fools who are there now.

  5. 8)
    mr.ed said on 7/30/2008 @ 6:50am PT: [Permalink]

    Oh my goodness gracious, Monica, that’s a federal rap. You learned about that in law school, right? It was on the bar exam, right?

  6. 9)
    Gary said on 7/30/2008 @ 2:18pm PT: [Permalink]

    Fire and prosecute this aid Goodling. After this is done make sure that she never serves in any government office or post for the remainder of her life. There is no justification for her actions or the lack of oversight by her superiors. If this is what we have descended to for law, in the Bush Administration, then we are truly a country without law.

  7. 10)
    CHRISTOPHER BURLEIGH said on 7/31/2008 @ 8:45am PT: [Permalink]

    The fall guy system seems to have been prefected to such a degree that the president is completely untouchable. Let’s put our heads together and try to enumerate how many fall guys Bush has used in 8 years.
    Monica Goodling,George Tenet, General Sanchez, General Karpinski,{Bush announces to the world the U.S. is not bound by the Geneva convention then lets Karpinski take the blame for Abu Gahraib torture}, Alberto Gonzales, who am I forgeting?

  8. 12)
    Allen said on 8/5/2008 @ 9:33am PT: [Permalink]

    Interview her and appeal to her duty to tell the truth. If you corner her “would you swear before God, that is true” you may get some interesting facts.

(Comments are now closed.)


--- Ad Content ---

BB SIDEBAR NOTICE

Thanks to you, The BRAD BLOG has been trouble-making and muckraking for … 22 YEARS!!!

Please help The BRAD BLOG, BradCast and Green News Report remain independent and 100% reader and listener supported in our 23rd YEAR!!!

ONE TIME
any amount...

MONTHLY
any amount...

OR VIA SNAIL MAIL
Make check out to...
Brad Friedman / BRAD BLOG
7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594
Los Angeles, CA 90028

RECENT POSTS

‘Green News Report’ – June 9, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

‘Crooked or Stupid’: Trump Rails Against ‘Rigged’ CA Elections, Offers No Evidence, Storms off Interview: ‘BradCast’ 6/8/2026

Counting continues in CA; Critical ME primary tomorrow; Also: Callers ring in, some who have fallen for phony rightwing 'voter fraud' claims...

Sunday ‘Tick Tick Tick Tick’ Toons

THIS WEEK: Breaking News at CBS ... On the Money ... Iran and Iran We Go ...

‘I’m not a Victim. I was a Criminal’: J6er Says ‘No’ to Trump’s ‘Weaponization’ Slush Fund Money: ‘BradCast’ 6/4/2026

Guest: Convicted MAGA rioter Jason Riddle; Also: Pelley charges new CBS execs pushing 'falsehoods', 'bias' into '60 Minutes'...

‘Green News Report’ – June 4, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

Trump’s Favorite Election Fraud Criminal Now Runs Free: ‘BradCast’ 6/2/2026

Also: Not so 'hot' after all, as data finds international tourism to U.S. plummeted in 2025...

‘Green News Report’ – June 2, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

One Failure After Another: ‘BradCast’ 6/1/2026

We are in an historic moment, as the Trump Presidency begins its collapse; Also: Callers ring in on tomorrow's wild California Gubernatorial primary...

Did Trump and His Attorneys Conspire to Defraud the United States?

The court-ordered reopening of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS could have impacts well beyond blocking access to a $1.8 billion slush fund...

UPDATE, Midday 6/1/26: Trump announces plan to drop 'Weaponization Fund'...

Sunday ‘Slush Fun!’ Toons

THIS WEEK: Dirty Money ... Trump Kennedy Center ... Let's Get Physical ... Forever (and Ever) War ...

Idle Hands…

Time off, and an update on the BRAD BLOG update...

Sunday ‘Have You Considered Treason?’ Toons

THIS WEEK: The Unstoppable Steal ... The Colbert Canary ... The Paxton Primer ...

Republicans Are Revolting: ‘BradCast’ 5/21/2026

Guests: Heather Digby Parton of Salon, 'Driftglass' of 'Pro Left Podcast' on the primaries, the ballroom, the slush fund, the wars, the media, Stephen Colbert, and much more...

‘Green News Report’ – May 21, 2026

With Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

About Brad Friedman...

Brad is an independent investigative journalist, blogger and broadcaster. Full Bio & Testimonials… Media Appearance Archive… Articles & Editorials Elsewhere… Contact…

He has contributed chapters to these books…
…And is featured in these documentary films…

BRAD BLOG ON THE AIR!

THE BRADCAST on KPFK/Pacifica Radio Network (90.7FM Los Angeles, 98.7FM Santa Barbara, 93.7FM N. San Diego and nationally syndicated, Monday-Thursday, on many other affiliate stations! ALSO VIA PODCAST: RSS/XML feed | Pandora | TuneIn | Apple Podcasts/iTunes | iHeart | Amazon Music
GREEN NEWS REPORT, nationally syndicated, with new episodes on Tuesday and Thursday. ALSO VIA PODCAST: RSS/XML feed | Pandora | TuneIn | Apple Podcasts/iTunes | iHeart | Amazon Music
Media Appearance Archives…

--- Ad Content ---

ADDITIONAL STUFF

Brad Friedman/
The BRAD BLOG Named...

Buzz Flash's 'Wings of Justice' Honoree
Project Censored 2010 Award Recipient
The 2008 Weblog Awards