Islands of Thieves (Islas de los Ladrones)

What an apt name for the Marianas! At least insofar as the Justice (sic) Department is concerned, that is. While two members of Congress (George Miller, D-CA, and Nick Rahall, D-WV) recently have called for a renewed investigation into the demotion and stifling of U.S. attorney for Guam and the Northern Marianas Frederick A. Black, back in 2002, this question hasn't gotten the press it deserves. (Googling news for "U.S. attorney" and "Marianas" produces only three hits.) But at the time there was a lot of speculation Black had been removed because his investigations impinged upon Jack Abramoff's clients' sweatshops. If true, it would be a clear early case of political firing of a U.S. attorney, relevant to today's scandal. And a reason, perhaps, why we now see senior Justice (sic) officials preparing to take the Fifth before congressional oversight committees. The water Gonzales is sitting in is beginning to simmer...