ASHCROFT’S By Chitra Ragavan

he small Cessna Citation was just over Grand Rapids, Mich., when the secure phone rang. Attorney General listened in- tently, interrupting the caller repeatedly. After T hanging up, he turned to his small staff. “The world,” he said, “has changed forever.” The change wreaked by the September 11 terrorist at- tacks was greater for Ashcroft than for any other mem- ber of President Bush’s cabinet. would have to torque the Pentagon bureaucracy in rad- ically different ways to fight a radically different enemy. would have to recalibrate American diplo- macy to deal with the starkly changed realities of the post-9/11 world. But Ashcroft, as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, would have to turn more than a century’s worth of jurisprudence on its head and begin enforcing the nation’s laws in a fun- damentally new way. Traditionally, the Justice Department’s role was to punish miscreants after the fact. That, as President Bush told Ashcroft bluntly after the attacks, was no longer good enough. “John,” Bush said, “don’t let this happen again.” The attorney general, in a wide-ranging interview with U.S. News, said he has taken the president’s mes- sage to heart. “I may be the person more responsible for trying to shape the national consciousness in saying that prosecution is not enough for the Justice Department anymore,” he said. “It has to be actively involved in pre- vention. And in order to move an institution and its mentality, sometimes you have to draw very clear lines.” Clarity, however, has hardly been achieved. Ashcroft today is easily the most polarizing member of the Bush cabinet, and his policies are sure to emerge as an im- portant area of contention between President Bush and whoever the Democratic nominee turns out to be. In Iowa and New Hampshire, Ashcroft’s name alone is a guaranteed applause line for the Democratic hopefuls. Politics aside, the legal initiatives with which he is most closely associated have become increasingly contro- versial. Several federal judges and an appeals court in New York have challenged key Ashcroft policies, and the Supreme Court is set to review the issues later this year. Among the more than 9,000 career lawyers at Jus-

CHARLIE ARCHAMBAULT FOR USN&WR

26ASHCROFT8(1) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 30 1ST PROOF America’s top cop has been demonized and lionized. He’s a complex guy all right, just not WAY the guy everyone thinks he is

TALENT. Colleagues say Attorney General John Ashcroft is a multifaceted man.

26ASHCROFT8(2) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 31 1ST PROOF Special Report

APPEARANCES. Above, Ashcroft with the president at a service for slain police officers. Right, sharing a lighter moment with FBI chief Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary . tice, for whom Ashcroft professes deep crimes nearly 70 percent admiration, the attorney general is a di- over three years. “One of visive figure. “He’s become so radio- the things that’s frustrat- active,” says a Justice Department vet- ing about watching from eran who likes and respects Ashcroft, the outside is he’s a very “that he couldn’t announce a free school charming, intelligent guy,” lunch initiative without people ques- says James Comey, who tioning it.” was confirmed as Ash- Jekyll and Hyde. For all of the contro- croft’s deputy a month ago versy he manages to attract, John Ash- and served as the top fed- croft is one of the least understood men eral prosecutor in Man- in Washington. Derided as a religious hattan before that. “He’s zealot by some, Ashcroft has never in- shockingly smart, but most voked religion in policy or procedural people wouldn’t think that. discussions, say colleagues, who add that The guy is ferociously hon- they have never even seen him pray. est, but there are people who would not served as Ashcroft’s criminal-division Challenged during his confirmation believe that. To some in the public, he chief and is now a federal judge. Chuck hearings as insensitive to minorities, is Darth Vader, but it’s unfair because Rosenberg, a former career prosecutor, Ashcroft worships regularly at a most- he’s really not that way.” is counselor to Ashcroft. “If you force me ly black church. An ardent opponent of Ashcroft, colleagues say, is focused, to pick one word to describe him,” Rosen- abortion, Ashcroft is praised by pro- hardworking, and dedicated. “I’ve always berg says, “it’s integrity. He holds that as abortion-rights groups for prosecuting felt that he sincerely believed in the his greatest and most important value. violence against abortion clinics. A long- trusteeship element of public service and He exudes it.” A former administration time gun-control foe, Ashcroft has in- was very concerned about living up to his official who knows the attorney general creased prosecutions of certain gun obligation,” says Michael Chertoff, who well agrees, but with an important caveat.

RESPECTING THE CLIENT, WITH CLARITY es. I don’t make political Thomas Jefferson, when he comments. I don’t endorse said, ‘Endowed by their n a wide-ranging inter- Department is very unified.” candidates. I just don’t, be- Creator with certain un- view, Attorney General On whether he has politi- cause justice is an arena in alienable rights . . . .’ Is that I John Ashcroft discussed cized the department: “That which we need to have the what they’re talking about? his tenure with U.S. News & sounds like you’re describing capacity to serve . . . without You know, sort of like ‘In World Report Editor Brian a different planet . . . the regard to politics. And that’s God We Trust’ being the Duffy and Senior Writer president relieved me of the why I’m basically out of poli- national motto, is that what Chitra Ragavan. responsibility to think politi- tics. And I rejoice in that fact they don’t like . . . you cally when I came here. I in many respects.” know, when I say the On whether he is a polarizing, don’t go to fundraisers. I On being criticized about pledge, do I say, ‘One Na- controversial figure: “I don’t don’t get involved in politics. expressing his religious tion under God,’ yeah, with think so. I think the Justice I don’t make political speech- faith: “That’s sort of like the rest of the audience? At

32 U.S.News & World Report, January 26, 2004 FROM LEFT: JIM LO SCALZO FOR USN≀ DAVID Y. LEE FOR USN&WR

26ASHCROFT8(3) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 32 1ST PROOF ice as governor and attor- ney general in Missouri and his one term in Congress as junior senator there, he was happy to leave the po- litical wars behind. “The president relieved me of the responsibility to think politically when I came here. . . . And I rejoice in that fact in many respects.” Distortions. Who is John Ashcroft, then, and why has he become such a lightning rod? Dick Foth is Ashcroft’s best friend. They have known each other for 54 years, but Foth allows that while he knows the answer to the first question, he is at a loss to answer the second. Ashcroft is an avid hiker, and one day last fall he, Foth, and a few friends were walking along the grassy Mall near the Lin- coln Memorial. It was a gorgeous day, and the sun was just setting, Foth re- calls, when they happened upon a group of teenagers from the Future Farmers of America. “When John walked up the steps, the kids broke into applause,” Foth recalls. “When peo- ple meet him personally in As Ashcroft approaches “the more polit- ity,” he joked. Relaxed in loafers and shirt an informal setting, they find him lik- ical aspects of the job,” this man says, sleeves, he is taller than he seems in his able, engaging, and funny.” And yet, Foth “he’s still got the strident partisan sena- public appearances and on television. marvels, his friend’s public image gets torial mind-set firmly in place. There’s al- Webs of wrinkles around puffy eyes betray “exponentially distorted, like the parlor most a Jekyll and Hyde quality.” the long days and heavy workload. Asked game of Gossip.” Ashcroft is as puzzled Rocking back in a comfortable leather if he believes he has politicized the Justice as anyone by the level of cognitive dis- armchair in his paneled office on the fifth Department, Ashcroft, suddenly, seemed sonance. “When I read some of those de- floor of the Justice Department, Ashcroft deeply troubled. “That sounds like you’re scriptions” in the press, he said, “I get was amused by such comments. “I don’t describing a different planet,” he said. He scared of me.” think you’re dealing with a split personal- elaborated, explaining that after his serv- The son of Pentecostal missionaries, least most of the rest of the ship. And if what you’re say- the preventive detention of will address that aggressive- audience. And I have never ing is that I haven’t sort of more than 700 illegal aliens ly and have.” felt like I should not say obscured in softer, political- and the mishandling of some On how September 11 that because . . . it’s the ly acceptable terms what detainees by prison guards: changed his priorities: “I heritage of the country . . . we’re really doing . . . you “I don’t apologize for a sys- think mobility may be the and it’s not like the refer- know, the American people tem that can ensure the single freedom that people ences to God and the Cre- are the client of this law security of the United States care most about . . . So ator in America have ever firm. And we need to let by detaining individuals it became clear that we had been exclusive.” them know exactly how who were in violation of the to work as a team to On what his critics view as we’re handling things. And I law, pending the outcome of protect our capacity for his harsh rhetoric: “I think respect the client at the their adjudication. To the that kind of freedom, for clarity is one of the most im- highest level.” extent that anybody is found all kinds of freedom in portant features in leader- On refusing to apologize for to have been mistreated we our culture.”

U.S.News & World Report, January 26, 2004 33

26ASHCROFT8(4) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 33 1ST PROOF Special Report

Ashcroft is a deeply religious man who torneys, which Ashcroft’s aides say he that while access to Ashcroft’s Justice De- says he has tried to live his life on the prin- wants to fix. Ashcroft’s colleagues say partment is tougher than it was under his ciple that actions have consequences and he genuinely cares about diversity. predecessor, Janet Reno, the attorney without consequences, life is meaning- Roscoe Howard, the U.S. attorney for general, “with regular prodding,” has ag- less. His mother, the daughter of a Great the District of Columbia, is an African- gressively protected abortion clinics from Lakes sea captain, taught him self-suffi- American who meets regularly with violence and prosecuted clinic bombers. ciency. His father prayed daily, asking Ashcroft. “We have talked about diver- Upon taking office, Ashcroft decided not God to help his three sons do something sity, not only in the [Justice] depart- to dismantle the national task force on “noble” each day. During World War ii, ment but also in [my] office, how I was clinic bombings created by Reno. He has when Ashcroft’s father was denied a job going to accomplish that. And how it provided federal protection for doctors as a military chaplain because of his lack was important to him as attorney gen- facing death threats, put abortion clinic of formal education, he vowed never to let eral. I think that there’s an aspect of bombing suspects on the fbi’s 10-most- that happen to his sons, and he provid- him that the public just hasn’t gotten to wanted list, and launched a in- ed all of them with a strong education. know. He’s a good guy.” vestigation into hundreds of fake-anthrax Young John was a gifted threat letters received athlete, earned a degree by abortion clinics. But in history but eschewed When I read some of those Saporta says Ashcroft a career in the ministry, “ also created a “breach of obtaining a law degree descriptions, I get scared of me. trust” and a “conflict of instead. Foth says critics ” interest” by asking the Attorney General John Ashcroft, err when they character- reacting to criticism in the press same prosecutors who ize Ashcroft as “right protect clinics to prose- wing” or “religious.” “He cute them if they violate was born in Chicago, got an education at Even some critics say Ashcroft has been the new ban on so-called partial-birth Yale and the University of Chicago, and a good attorney general. “I think he’s abortions. That aside, Saporta says, “on was raised in the Ozarks,” Foth says. “He’s doing fairly well,” says Wisconsin Re- numerous occasions, they have done the a very multifaceted man.” publican James Sensenbrenner, chair- right thing.” Ashcroft isn’t the first complex polit- man of the House Judiciary Committee, The reason—one of the rare areas of ical figure to invite controversy; it’s just who has taken Ashcroft to task in the past. agreement among some critics and sup- that the controversy, in his case, seems Ashcroft got an A- for effectiveness last porters of the attorney general—is so intense and, at times, at variance January from the nonpartisan magazine Ashcroft’s belief that all the laws must with the facts. During his confirmation National Journal, second only to Secre- be enforced consistently. This has won hearings, Democrats attacked him for tary of State Powell. “I think he has been Ashcroft a reputation by many at Justice remarks he made as a senator, mis- a strong attorney general,” says Glenn as a “prosecutor’s attorney general.” But characterizing a respected African- Fine, Justice’s inspector general, the de- that can cut both ways. Nearly 40 per- American judge as “pro-criminal.” But partment’s watchdog. “He has a clear mis- cent of the cases Ashcroft has authorized last year, Ashcroft’s then deputy, Larry sion. He has pursued that mission.” for the death penalty have been against Thompson, who is African-American, Prodding. In assessing Ashcroft’s role the wishes of U.S. attorneys. On the commissioned a consulting group to as attorney general, two useful areas of other hand, Ashcroft seldom rejects their conduct a diversity study of the Justice inquiry are abortion and the death penal- requests to seek the death penalty. “He’s Department. The study documented a ty. Vicki Saporta, president and ceo of imposing his own views on the death plethora of complaints by minority at- the National Abortion Federation, says penalty on the entire nation,” says David

34 U.S.News & World Report, January 26, 2004 FROM LEFT: JIM LO SCALZO FOR USN≀ DAVID BUTOW—REDUX FOR USN&WR

26ASHCROFT8(5) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 34 1ST PROOF MIXED REACTION John Ashcroft’s popularity, up in polls after Sept. 11, 2001, fell as his antiterrorism legal strategies grew controversial.

80%

60

40

Percentage of those Gallup 20 polled who approve of John Ashcroft’s Hart & Teeter Research performance Harris Interactive

0 CHANGED WORLD. Ashcroft (far left) at his Senate Jan.May Sept. Jan. May Sept. Jan. May Sept. confirmation hearing. Above, New York Mayor Rudolph 2001 2002 2003 Giuliani (left) gives Ashcroft a tour of ground zero.

USN&WR Brock of the Death Penalty Research By far the most important criticisms of Ashcroft’s legal defense of the adminis- Center. But Justice sources say Ashcroft Ashcroft’s Justice Department have to do tration’s detention of thousands of “ene- usually accepts the recommendations of with its response to the 9/11 attacks. Ash- my combatants” at Guantánamo Bay, his capital murder committee. Even croft and the department have been re- Cuba—with no prospect of trial for most. some of Reno’s former colleagues say buked by Fine, Justice’s inspector gen- Ashcroft also modified existing rules to Ashcroft is applying the right principles. eral, for unwarranted detention and allow the government to detain illegal “A lot of what he is doing, centralizing abuse of some illegal immigrants imme- aliens even after courts ruled that they some of the decisions away from the U.S. diately after the attacks. Civil liberties should be released—measures that four attorneys, could eliminate some of the groups have challenged some provisions federal judges have ruled unconstitu- disparity [in prosecutions from district of the U.S.A. —the antiterror- tional. “The public, in its wonderful ig- to district],” says Robert Litt, a Justice ism law passed after 9/11—as unduly in- norance or infinite wisdom, has wrapped Department lawyer who worked for trusive. Although a Gallup Poll last year all these theories into one ball,” says Uni- Reno. “I agree with the structural ideas. found that 70 percent of Americans felt versity of Maryland legal scholar Michael I disagree with the policies he sets. But the law was either strong enough or could Greenberger, “and attacked the Patriot he has a right to set those policies.” be toughened even more, for many, the Act as an easy target to express their deep This same ethos helps explain why Ash- Patriot Act has become a symbol of what anger over what’s happening.” croft, the gun-control foe, has increased they view as Ashcroft’s legal excesses. By the numbers. Public perceptions certain gun-crime prosecutions, like those In fact, the law has nothing to do with aside, there are growing questions about of felons carrying guns. Critics say the at- the measures for which Ashcroft has whether Ashcroft’s prevention paradigm torney general is ignoring laws that target drawn the most heated criticism. The Pa- works. In his new book Enemy Aliens, rogue gun dealers, but Justice spokesman triot Act, the government argues, was de- Georgetown University law Prof. David Mark Corallo says prosecutions of dealers signed to update laws passed before cell- Cole examines the preventive detentions are actually up 150 percent. phones and the Internet were created, to of roughly 5,000 foreign nationals— It also explains why Ashcroft wrote a allow fbi agents to obtain wiretaps on Muslim men—after the terrorist attacks. letter to the National Rifle Association, multiple cellphones and track terrorism Only three were ultimately charged with without consulting with his appellate suspects’ Internet usage. It also allows terrorism-related crimes. Just one was lawyers, to assert his own interpretation federal agents to obtain terrorism sus- convicted. At the time, Ashcroft called of the Second Amendment. In Ashcroft’s pects’ business records—including their the detainees “suspected terrorists” and conception, it protects the individual’s library browsing habits—while delaying announced the deportation of more than right to bear arms, not just the militias’ notification that their homes have been 500 Muslim men as a signal victory in right—which has been the accepted juris- searched, with a federal judge’s approval. the “war on terror.” In fact, the 500 were prudence for decades. The Ashcroft let- Controversial? Sure, but federal judges deported only after the fbi found no ter- ter triggered at least 130 court challenges and civil liberties groups have focused on rorist ties. “They were misses,” Cole says, in federal gun cases in Washington, D.C., other, more troubling Justice Department “not hits.” and Virginia alone. Having kicked over policies outside the Patriot Act. They cite A study by researchers at Syracuse the hornet’s nest, Ashcroft then helped policies like jailing terrorism suspects as University found still more troubling his prosecutors fight, and win, every case. “material witnesses” so that they can be news. While the Justice Department has Mathew Nosanchuk, litigation director interrogated by investigators and prose- sharply increased terrorism prosecu- of the Violence Policy Center, says Ash- cutors, even though they have not been tions, the study found that only a hand- croft’s “pandering” to the nra “put the charged with any crime. Or the preventive ful of defendants were sentenced to Justice Department on a collision course detention of illegal aliens and the 600- lengthy prison terms. The study, whose with itself.” odd secret trials of those detainees. Or conclusions the fbi disputes, found that

U.S.News & World Report, January 26, 2004 35

26ASHCROFT8(6) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 35 1ST PROOF Special Report while the Justice Department convicted gizing your base,” says a Justice Depart- tunity to get close to him have been im- 184 people of crimes related to “inter- ment official. “And I think their political pressed. Last year, prosecutors working in national terrorism,” the defendants view of the world is that we don’t need to Roscoe Howard’s office in Washington were sentenced to average prison terms reach out to anybody but the people who were exhausted by a 10-month trial of a vi- of just 14 days and, in some instances, like us and love us.” olent drug kingpin. “Ashcroft learned received no jail time. Remarkably, after Some of Ashcroft’s difficulties may be about it,” Howard recalls, “and he made 9/11, fewer numbers of defendants the result of his management style. Like a personal call to each one of them.” An ar- in terrorism-related cases were sen- a ceo of a major corporation, the attor- dent sports fan who owns a Michael Jor- tenced to five years or more than before ney general believes his job is not to mi- dan bat from the superstar’s brief baseball the attacks. cromanage but to offer big-picture, re- career, Ashcroft regularly organizes bas- Ashcroft is unapologetic about his sults-oriented leadership—what he likes ketball matches with visiting U.S. attor- tactics or their results. “One thing to call “noble inspiration.” But the hier- neys in the fbi gym across the street. De- that’s clear to me, every day of my life,” archical structure his political aides have spite his age, says Chertoff, the former he said, “when I look at the world, I see instituted to accommodate that style has criminal division chief, “he’s strong under terrorism has not abated. the boards.” A fierce com- It’s flourished. And it’s petitor on the court, Ash- my view that the terror- croft is a softie off it, aides ists would rather hit say, springing for ice us than anybody else. cream for the losing side. That’s why we are still “What’s frustrating is that referred to as ‘the Great some of the public per- Satan.’ So preventing, or ception is exactly wrong,” interrupting, disrupting, says his colleague Dan displacing, dislocating, Bryant, assistant attorney delaying—anything we general for legal policy. do to prevent terrorist “The reality is that he has attacks, is important.” a fundamental regard for That’s precisely the people.” kind of rhetoric that gets But few have had a Ashcroft in trouble, with chance to see that side of critics seizing on terms Ashcroft. What junior like the hair-raising staffers saw was what “anything.” “Clearly the they considered politi- actions, policies, and cization of the civil serv- laws he’s promulgated,” ant ranks. Ashcroft’s says the American Civil The terrorists would rather hit us aides announced that Liberties Union’s execu- “ they would personally tive director, Anthony than anybody else. sign off on all career staff Romero, “show a funda- ” bonuses and on new at- The attorney general, mental lack of concern in defense of his tough approach torney hires. “The as- for enforcing civil liber- sumption,” says the for- ties and civil rights.” mer official, “ is that they Outside the box. Ashcroft’s rhetoric, isolated Ashcroft from his employees, were going to fill the vacancies with at- however, is often at odds with his actions several Justice officials say. Says a former torneys who were Republicans.” Even out of the public eye. Several aides re- career official who worked for Reno and the interns were vetted for Republican counted the story of a Justice Depart- Ashcroft and respects both: “It’s like pedigree, sources say. Veteran career ment brainstorming session in Ash- forgetting your customers.” The impli- staffers perceived as loyal to Reno were croft’s office shortly after 9/11. “One of cations, however, are real. When Ash- pushed out or detailed to what they our colleagues, she said something pret- croft took office, his political aides, chief joked were “re-education camps,” U.S. ty far-fetched that wasn’t going to work,” of staff David Ayres and deputy chief of attorneys’ offices in remote locations. In says Thompson, Ashcroft’s former depu- staff David Israelite, known as “The a letter to the Washington Post late last ty. “I remember John sternly turning to Davids,” instituted a system of using year, a former career manager, Richard her and saying, ‘I asked you to think out- mainly phones and E-mails to seek in- Ugelow, said Ashcroft had “summarily side the box but not outside the Consti- formation from career staff, then funnel removed and transferred five career tution.’ ” Says another official, “You can that information to Ashcroft. But he was managers, including myself,” and ac- always find staff people, younger people so overworked, especially after 9/11, that cused the attorney general of “disdain trying to push the envelope. I think fewer and fewer career attorneys ever and utter contempt for career Depart- Ashcroft was, in general, a more mod- saw the ag, and many say decision mak- ment of Justice attorneys.” erating influence.” ing within the department became in- Ashcroft says he is just being a tough Current and former associates say that creasingly opaque. “You didn’t know how manager. “In computers, they say ‘gar- much of the damage to Ashcroft’s image the decision was made,” says the former bage in, garbage out.’ Well, frankly, we has been self-inflicted. “His aides have career official. “You couldn’t challenge it need to get the very best possible peo- a philosophy that it no longer matters because there was no one to talk to.” ple,” Ashcroft said. The antipathy bub- reaching the undecideds, because they As Ashcroft has settled into his job, bled over when the department’s most don’t vote; what really matters is ener- however, those who have had the oppor- senior career official, Stephen Colgate,

36 U.S.News & World Report, January 26, 2004 CHARLIE ARCHAMBAULT FOR USN&WR

26ASHCROFT8(7) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 36 1ST PROOF WORKING MAN. Ashcroft confers with staff members during a morning meeting in his Justice Department office. retired and delivered an emotional fare- acute public-relations aggravation for larizing presence could taint the jury well address, praising Reno. “A lot of Ashcroft, who, Corallo says, couldn’t pool. Says Kris Kolesnik, a former vet- people had a poker face. But inside, they have cared less about the bare-breast- eran investigator for Ashcroft’s friend were saying, ‘You go, Steve!’ ” says a for- ed statue.“There are plenty of bare Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa: “He’s not mer official. breasts,” he says, “in murals and reliefs being advised on how to talk about Curtains. Ashcroft’s replacement of all over the department.” cases without seeming to politically Colgate with the president of a small Still, Ashcroft’s own actions on other interfere. He thinks he’s going to be Bible college only solidified his image as matters have sometimes contributed to tough on terrorists. He doesn’t realize an ideological attorney general. But what the perceptual problems. He has even it’s interfering with the administering really tarnished his image was the “blue managed to inflame the nation’s librar- of justice.” drape” story. Beverley Lumpkin, a vet- ians. In seeking to allay concern about Aides say that some of these perceived eran Justice Department journalist, the provision of the Patriot Act that al- gaffes result from the daily margin calls wrote a column for ABCNews.com in lows federal agents to obtain the library Ashcroft makes, trying to balance the which she reported that someone on records of terrorism suspects, Ashcroft need to protect sensitive terrorism in- Ashcroft’s staff had ordered a set of blue complained that librarians were wal- vestigations against his desire to inform drapes to cover two art deco statues, in- lowing in “baseless hysteria.” and recruit the public in the war on ter- cluding the Spirit of Justice, in the Jus- A federal judge in Detroit recently rorism. “He’s very concerned and cog- tice Department’s ceremonial Great blasted the attorney general for violating nizant of what he says publicly,” says a Hall. Lumpkin reported that she was un- a gag order in a major terrorism prose- senior official. But to many at Justice, able to confirm the tip that Ashcroft was cution, causing the attorney general to Ashcroft’s rhetoric betrays a failure to behind the coverup because he was of- issue a written apology. His naming of understand the department’s true mis- fended by the statue’s bare breast. But scientist Steven Hatfill as a “person of in- sion. “They don’t have a big sense of the some news outlets that picked up the terest” in the fbi’s investigation of the institution,” says a Justice official. “Their story blamed Ashcroft, and the item anthrax attacks two years ago triggered decision is driven by, ‘How do we win solidified the attorney general’s reputa- a civil suit that is pending. And his de- this battle now.’ ” tion as a religious prig. “I did not order cision to announce, from Moscow, the As much as he genuinely admires the that drape, and I didn’t know it was arrest of al Qaeda suspect Jose Padilla men and women who work with him at going to be put up,” Ashcroft told U.S. on charges of scheming to deliver a “dirty Justice, that’s a charge to which the at- News, “until after it was put up.” Justice bomb”—a crude radiological device— torney general, given the burden he feels spokesman Corallo proffered an expla- somewhere in the United States left to help prevent another terrorist attack, nation: President Bush was planning White House aides grumbling about the just might plead guilty. l a visit to the department, and a White Justice Department’s headline-grabbing. House advance team wanted blue More and more, there’s grousing among With Brian Duffy, Christopher H. drapes for the televised event. A Justice prosecutors, who say they duck when Schmitt, and the U.S. News Library Department employee purchased the Ashcroft blows into town to announce Reference Staff drapes, and the rest, well, has been an a big case because they fear that his po- [email protected]

38 U.S.News & World Report, January 26, 2004 CHARLIE ARCHAMBAULT FOR USN&WR

26ASHCROFT8(8) DARREN 2588 JENN2303 38 1ST PROOF