Berkley calls to reinstate Bogden

Friday, May 4, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Fired U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden's one-time boss praised the Nevadan in testimony Thursday, leading Rep. Shelley Berkley to say the time has come for Nevada's Republican U.S. senator to get Bogden his job back.

Former Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who as the No. 2 official at the Justice Department supervised the U.S. attorneys, said Bogden was exactly the kind of prosecutor he was looking for in 2004 when he tapped him to launch a violent crime prevention campaign.

Bogden, Comey said, did a "bang-up job."

"He was as straight as a Nevada highway and a fired-up guy," Comey testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee. "He was a very good U.S. attorney."

As the congressional investigation continues into the White House-led purge of eight U.S. attorneys last year, Comey became the latest Justice official to testify he had no idea how a well-regarded career prosecutor such as Bogden ended up on a list of fired attorneys.

The controversy threatens Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' job and has led to claims that the Bush administration was trying to politicize the Justice Department.

Berkley, D-Nev., said Comey's testimony offers further proof that dismissing Bogden was a disservice to Nevada that should be remedied.

Nevada Sen. John Ensign, who, as the state's Republican in the Senate is responsible for nominating Bogden's replacement, should insist on getting the Nevadan reinstated, she said.

"There was no reason he should have been fired. Everybody admits that now," Berkley said in an interview.

Ensign, she added, should "stand up to the White House, do what's best for his constituents and stand up for a decent man (who) was shamefully abused."

Ensign previously has called on Gonzales to restore Bogden's reputation, either by reinstating him or finding him another job. Ensign has said his support for the attorney general hinges on Justice's efforts to do so. The rest of the Nevada delegation has called for Gonzales to resign, as have other lawmakers.

But the attorney general has indicated he is not interested in revisiting his decision, according to Bogden, who said in an interview last month that he asked the attorney general for his old job back when Gonzales called to offer support.

Ensign's office said Thursday that the senator is working with the Justice Department to restore Bogden's reputation, but declined further comment.

The firings were organized by Gonzales' former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, who has been unable to say how Bogden ended up on the list.

Comey testified that Sampson asked him in February 2005 whom he might consider letting go, and Comey mentioned some names during a 15-minute conversation.

But the former official, now general counsel at Lockheed Martin, said he had no idea there was a firing plan under way. Only one of those he had mentioned, Kevin Ryan of California, was among those fired. Bogden was not on his list.

Committee member Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who has criticized the investigation as a "fishing expedition," said during the hearing that he "liked Bodgen" and "thought he was a very competent guy."