A new scandal at Justice

By Libby

The House that Abramoff built continues to crumple taking down the key figures with it. Today's casualty comes from the Justice Department.

WASHINGTON - A senior Justice Department official has resigned after coming under scrutiny in the Department’s expanding investigation of convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a Justice Department official with knowledge of the case.

Making the situation more awkward for the embattled Department, the official, Robert E. Coughlin II, was deputy chief of staff for the criminal division, which is overseeing the Department’s probe of Abramoff.

He stepped down effective April 6 as investigators in Coughlin’s own division ratcheted up their investigation of lobbyist Kevin Ring, Coughlin’s long-time friend and a key associate of Abramoff.

How very cozy. Coughlin would like to make it perfectly clear that he is leaving voluntarily. Isn't that what they all say before they get indicted? But still Coughlin is a small fish in this big sea of corruption. I'm still waiting for Rove's name to be added to the list.

Not that I'm holding my breath. I have a feeling the best evidence is lost in all those missing emails and Jack is unlikely to roll on Rove in the absence of the proofs.