Justice E-Mails on Lam Show Frustrations

Former U.S. Attorney Carol Lam testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington in this March 6, 2007 file photo. ( AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File) (Dennis Cook - AP)

Justice Department officials deny that public corruption prosecutions had anything to do with the dismissals of Lam and seven other U.S. attorneys. As early as January 2006, senior DOJ officials were putting Lam forward to the White House as a possible candidate for replacement when her four-year appointment expired in November.

By February 2006, an undercurrent of tension was evident in Lam's day-to-day relations with her immediate superiors.

On Feb. 8, Associate Deputy Attorney General Ronald Tenpas wrote an e-mail to Mercer complaining about having to deal with Lam and other U.S. attorneys on sentencing guidelines. "Please just shoot me at first sight and end the misery," he wrote.

Lam, meanwhile, was pleading with Tenpas to keep her sentencing program in place.

"Just not sure how much more bad news my folks can take," she wrote.

In May, Lam came under fire from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., for not prosecuting enough immigration cases. She called Tenpas to discuss how to respond, telling him that she was "sitting quiet rather than attempting to respond publicly by explaining the resource limitations," according to his account, but that she was "willing to change course if folks think that would be beneficial."

That same day, apparently without clearing it with Washington, Lam fired off a press release rebutting Issa's criticism.

Issa reacted with a scathing public letter that labeled Lam "incredibly disingenuous" _ prompting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' senior counsel Monica Goodling to remark: "The assault continues."

Later in the year, Lam met on the issue with Issa and GOP Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, then House Judiciary Committee chairman. She told her superiors the meeting was productive and even friendly. "Sounds like she handled it well and it was actually constructive," wrote Justice Department attorney Rebecca Seidel.

But by then Lam's fate might have been sealed.

On June 1, Sampson wrote to subordinates stressing the need to increase the department's immigration case filings and recommending having a "heart-to-heart" with Lam on this point.

Then, Sampson said, her superiors should: "Put her on a very short leash; if she balks on any of the foregoing or otherwise does not perform in a measurable way by July 15 (my date), remove her. AG then appoints new USA from outside the office."

By September, Lam's name began appearing on lists of U.S. attorneys the department planned to push out, and in December she was dismissed. Lam, meanwhile, was expressing "continuing dismay" both about her firing and the timing. Initially given a Jan. 31, 2007, deadline, Lam requested an extension citing "case related concerns," according to an e-mail from her DOJ handler to other officials.

Indictments charging Wilkes and Foggo with fraud and conspiracy were returned Feb. 13, two days before Lam officially resigned her post. Justice Department officials assured members of Congress that her departure would not affect the case.

On Feb. 26, Lam began working for San Diego-based wireless company Qualcomm Inc.

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Associated Press Writer Allison Hoffman reported from San Diego.