WASHINGTON (Wednesday, April 9, 2008) – Responding to press reports about the dismissal of a Department of Justice attorney, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking that he ensure that Department of Justice managers are aware of laws and policies against discrimination and intimidation.  Recent media reports have suggested Leslie Hagen, a Department attorney and the liaison with the U.S. Attorney’s Committee on Native American Issues from 2005 to 2006, was removed from her post in light of rumors of her sexual orientation.  Federal law protects Federal employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“We ask that as Attorney General, you take steps to ensure that all of your managers understand the existing protections under law to protect employees against all forms of discrimination and intimidation,” the letter said.

The letter was signed by all 10 Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  The text of the letter follows.  A PDF is available here.

Last week, Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) sent a letter to the Department’s Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility seeking confirmation that the offices were including Ms. Hagen’s case in the ongoing investigations into the firings of U.S. Attorneys for seemingly political reasons and improper personnel practices throughout the Department.

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