Attorneygate: Bill Clinton's 1993 Purge of U.S. Attorneys

by Richard Poe
April 14, 2007

History is an excellent antidote for hysteria. All the huffing and puffing over the Bush Administration’s firing of eight U.S. Attorneys might be tempered by an awareness that Bush’s predecessor, President Bill Clinton, summarily fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys on a single day, March 24, 1993. (1) (2)

Why the Clinton Administration initiated this unprecedented purge has never been adequately investigated. For the convenience of future historians, we offer here a full list of the 93 U.S. Attorneys whose resignations the Clinton administration demanded:

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama (usdoj.gov)
James Eldon Wilson (1987-1994), replaced by Charles R. Pitt (1994-present) (3)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama (usdoj.gov)
Jack W. Selden (1992-93), replaced by Claude Harris, Jr. (1993-94)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama (usdoj.gov)
J.B. Sessions, III (1981-1993), replaced by Edward Vulevich, Jr. (1993-95)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska (usdoj.gov)
Wevley William Shea (1990-1993), replaced by Joseph W. Bottini (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona (usdoj.gov)
Linda A. Akers (1990-1993), replaced by Daniel G. Knauss (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas (usdoj.gov)
Charles A. Banks (1987-1993), replaced by Richard M. Pence, Jr. (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas (uscourts.gov)
J. Michael Fitzhugh (1985-93), replaced by Paul K. Holmes, III (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California (usdoj.gov)
Terree A. Bowers (1992-94), replaced by Nora M. Manella (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California (usdoj.gov)
George L. O’Connell (1991-93), replaced by Robert M. Twiss (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California (usdoj.gov)
John A. Mendez (1992-93), replaced by Michael J. Yamaguchi (1993-present) (4)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California (usdoj.gov)
William Braniff (1988-93), replaced by James W. Brannigan, Jr. (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado (usdoj.gov)
Michael J. Norton (1988-93), replaced by James R. Allison (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut (usdoj.gov)
Albert S. Dabrowski (1991-93), replaced by Christopher Droney (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware (usdoj.gov)
William C. Carpenter (1985-93), replaced by Richard G. Andrews (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia (usdoj.gov)
Jay B. Stephens (1988-93), replaced by J. Ramsey Johnson (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida (usdoj.gov)
Robert W. Genzman (1988-93), replaced by Douglas N. Frazier (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida (usdoj.gov)
Kenneth W. Sukhia (1990-93), replaced by Gregory R. Miller (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (usdoj.gov)
Roberto Martinez (1992-93), replaced by Kendall B. Coffey (1993-96)
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia (usdoj.gov)
Edgar William Ennis, Jr. (1988-93), replaced by Samuel A. Wilson, Jr. (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia (usdoj.gov)
Joe D. Whitley (1990-93), replaced by Gerrilyn G. Brill (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia (usdoj.gov)
Jay D. Gardner (1992-94), replaced by Harry D. Dixon, Jr. (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands Frederick A. Black (1991-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii (usdoj.gov)
Daniel A. Bent (1983-93), replaced by Elliott Enoki (1993-94)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho (usdoj.gov)
Maurice O. Ellsworth (1985-93), replaced by Patrick J. Molloy (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois (usdoj.gov)
J. William Roberts (1986-93), replaced by Byron G. Cudmore (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (usdoj.gov)
Judge Fred L. Foreman (1990-93), replaced by Michael J. Shepard (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois (usdoj.gov)
Frederick J. Hess (1982-93), replaced by Clifford J. Proud (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana (usdoj.gov)
John F. Hoehner (1991-93), replaced by David A. Capp (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana (usdoj.gov)
Deborah J. Daniels (1988-93), replaced by John J. Thar (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa (usdoj.gov)
Charles W. Lawson (1986-93), replaced by Robert L. Teig (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa (usdoj.gov)
Gene W. Shepard (1990-93), replaced by Don Carlos Nickerson (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas (usdoj.gov)
Lee Thompson (1990-93), replaced by Jackie N. Williams (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky (usdoj.gov)
Karen K. Caldwell (1991-94), replaced by Joseph L. Famularo (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky (usdoj.gov)
Joseph M. Whittle (1986-93), replaced by Michael Troop (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana (usdoj.gov)
Harry A. Rosenberg (1991-93), replaced by Robert J. Boitmann (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana (usdoj.gov)
P. Raymond Lamonica (1986-94), replaced by L.J. Hymel (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana (usdoj.gov)
Joseph S. Cage, Jr. (1981-93), replaced by William J. Flanagan (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine
Richard S. Cohen (1981-1993), replaced by Jay P. McCloskey (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland (usdoj.gov)
Richard D. Bennett (1991-93), replaced by Gary P. Jordan (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts (usdoj.gov)
Wayne A. Budd (1989-93), replaced by A. John Pappalardo (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan (usdoj.gov)
Stephen J. Markman (1989-93), replaced by Ross Parker (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan (usdoj.gov)
John A. Smietanka (1981-94), replaced by Thomas J. Gezon (1994)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota (usdoj.gov)
Thomas B. Heffelfinger (1991-93), replaced by Francis K. Hermann (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi (usdoj.gov)
Robert Q. Whitwell (1985-93), replaced by Alfred E. Moreton, III (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi (usdoj.gov)
George L. Phillips (1980-94), replaced by Brad Pigott (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri (usdoj.gov)
Stephen B. Higgins (1990-93), replaced by Edward L. Dowd, Jr. (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri (usdoj.gov)
Jean Paul Bradshaw (1989-93), replaced by Michael A. Jones (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana (usdoj.gov)
Doris Swords Poppler (1990-93), replaced by Sherry S. Mateucci (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska (usdoj.gov)
Ronald D. Lahners (1981-93), replaced by Thomas J. Monaghan (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada (usdoj.gov)
Monte Stewart (1992-93), replaced by Kathryn Landreth (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire (usdoj.gov)
Jeffrey R. Howard (1989-93), replaced by Peter E. Papps (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey (usdoj.gov)
Michael Chertoff (1990-94), replaced by Faith S. Hochberg (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico (usdoj.gov)
Don J. Svet (1991-93), replaced by Larry Gomez (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (usdoj.gov)
Mary Jo White (December 1992-June 1, 1993), replaced by Zachary W. Carter (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York (usdoj.gov)
Gary L. Sharpe (1992-94), replaced by Thomas J. Maroney (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (usdoj.gov)
Otto G. Obermaier (1989-93), Mary Jo White (June 1, 1993-January 2002)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York (usdoj.gov)
Dennis C. Vacco (1988-93), replaced by Patrick H. NeMoyer (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina (usdoj.gov)
Margaret Person Currin (1988-93), replaced by James R. Dedrick (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (uscourts.gov)
Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. (1986-93), replaced by Benjamin H. White, Jr. (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina (uscourts.gov)
Thomas J. Ashcraft (1987-93), replaced by Jerry W. Miller (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota (usdoj.gov)
Stephen D. Easton (1990-93), replaced by John T. Schneider (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio (uscourts.gov)
Joyce J. George (1989-93), replaced by Patrick J. Foley (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio
D. Michael Crites (1986-93), replaced by Barbara L. Beran (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma (usdoj.gov)
John W. Haley, Jr. (1990-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma (usdoj.gov)
Tony M. Graham (1987-93), replaced by Frederick L. Dunn, III (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma (usdoj.gov)
Joe L. Heaton (1992-93), replaced by John E. Green (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon (usdoj.gov)
Charles H. Turner (1982-93), replaced by Jack C. Wong (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (usdoj.gov)
Michael M. Baylson (1988-93), replaced Michael J. Rotko (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (uscourts.gov)
James J. West (1985-93), replaced by Wayne P. Samuelson (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania (uscourts.gov)
Thomas W. Corbett, Jr. (1989-93), replaced by Frederick W. Thieman (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico (uscourts.gov)
Daniel F. Lopez-Romo (1982-93), replaced by Charles E.. Fitzwilliam (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island (usdoj.gov)
Lincoln C. Almond (1981-93), replaced by Edwin J. Gale (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina (usdoj.gov)
John S. Simmons (1992-93), replaced by Margaret B. Seymour (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota (usdoj.gov)
Kevin V. Schieffer (1991-93), replaced by Ted L. McBride (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee (uscourts.gov)
Jerry G. Cunningham (1991-93), replaced by David G. Dake (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee (uscourts.gov)
Ernest W. Williams (1991-94), replaced by John M. Roberts (1994-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee (uscourts.gov)
Edward G. Bryant (1991-93), replaced by Daniel A. Clancy (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas (uscourts.gov)
Robert J. Wortham (1981-93), replaced by Ruth Yeager (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas (uscourts.gov)
Marvin L. Collins (1985-93), replaced by Richard H. Stephens (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas (uscourts.gov)
Ronald G. Woods (1990-93), replaced by Lawrence D. Finer (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas (uscourts.gov)
Ronald F. Ederer (1989-93), replaced by James H. DeAtley (1993-96)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah (uscourts.gov)
David J. Jordan (1991-93), replaced by Richard D. Parry (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont (usdoj.gov)
Charles A. Caruso (1991-93), replaced by Charles R. Tetzlaff (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands (usdoj.gov)
Terry M. Halpern (1987-93), replaced by Hugh P. Mabe, III (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (usdoj.gov)
Richard Cullen (1991-93), replaced by Kenneth E. Melson (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia (usdoj.gov)
E. Montgomery Tucker (1990-93), replaced by Morgan E. Scott, Jr. (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington (usdoj.gov)
William D. Hyslop (1991-93), replaced by Carroll D. Gray (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington (usdoj.gov)
Michael D. McKay (1989-93), replaced by Susan L. Barnes (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia (uscourts.gov)
William A. Kolibash (1981-93), replaced by William D. Wilmoth (1993-present)
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia (uscourts.gov)
Michael W. Carey (1986-93), replaced by Charles T. Miller (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (usdoj.gov)
John E. Fryatt (1988-93), replaced by Nathan A. Fischbach (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin (usdoj.gov)
Kevin C. Potter (1981-93), replaced by Grant C. Johnson (1993)
U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming (uscourts.gov)
Richard A. Stacy (1981-94), replaced by David D. Freudenthal (1994-present)

AUTHOR’S NOTE: An incomplete version of this list was accidentally posted on March 28, 2007 while still in draft form. Our apologies for the confusion. — Richard Poe

Freeper comments 04/14/2007 12:42:44 PM PDT

NOTES
1. David Johnston and Neil A. Lewis, “Gonzales Draws Strong Criticism of Prosecutors“, The New York Times, 29 March 2007

2. David Johnston, “Attorney General Seeks Resignations from Prosecutors“, The New York Times, 24 March 1993

3. For a full listing of U.S. Attorneys, district by district, from 1784 to 1994, see: Richard A. Hertling, Acting Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Legislative Affairs, letter to The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. and The Honorable Linda Sanchez, 5 March 2007 (download pdf file)

4. “President Nominates Eight U.S. Attorneys“, Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, 29 July 1993