I see that Obama is appointing another wonderful pick to a govt job

[dick thompson]

Good to see that open government and transparency is alive and well on the federal level - or not. EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Attorney nominee won't ID all clients Ethics raised by exclusion By Jim McElhatton (Contact) | Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Article Comments ( 10 ) Print [-][+] Font Size E-Mail Alerts Tell a Friend Got a Question? You Report Click-2-Listen Yahoo! Buzz EXCLUSIVE: The criminal defense lawyer nominated by President Obama to be the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey is declining to identify more than half of his private clients on government forms designed to help the public guard against potential conflicts of interests. Paul J. Fishman, nominated to serve as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, is citing the privacy interests of the clients - an exemption that is permitted under federal ethics laws, but that leaves prosecutors on an honor system to police their own conflicts, ethics watchdogs say. Mr. Fishman provided the names of 29 clients on the government disclosure form, including a convicted former New Jersey municipal official, a health care company and the former girlfriend of New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. But he withheld the names of "approximately 37 confidential clients,["] saying they cannot be named because they are involved in grand jury or other secret investigations. "If this person is going to be able to exercise the law enforcement powers of the U.S. government, you want to make sure he doesn't have any conflicts," said Gregory Ogden, a law professor at Pepperdine University who has taught ethics. "To some extent, you have to trust the guy's ethical integrity and experience and balance that against the possible concern that he might not be as vigorous with people he's represented." A person who answered the telephone at Mr. Fishman's New York office at the Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP law firm said Mr. Fishman was not commenting publicly while his nomination is under consideration. White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said that if confirmed, Mr. Fishman won't be involved in cases involving any of his former clients. "Upon confirmation, as is standard practice for U.S. attorneys who previously worked in the private sector, Mr. Fishman will implement a screening mechanism that removes himself from matters that may be pending in the U.S. Attorney's Office involving his former clients, including confidential clients," Mr. LaBolt said. Mr. Fishman reported more than $2.3 million in "law partnership income" since the start of 2008 on his ethics form. Although more than half of his client list remains secret, Mr. Fishman's public list reveals involvement in several high-profile and politically sensitive cases prosecuted by the same office that he is seeking to run. Continue reading 12Next Click here for reprint permissions! Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC Read 10 comments MindTinker "If this person is going to be able to exercise the law enforcement powers of the U.S. government, you want to make sure he doesn't have any conflicts," . . . You're talking about another O-man nominee. This concern hasn't kept any of his polito-cons out yet, why think it would keep out another? Mark as offensive Sigma2010 Wonder if he's paid his taxes? Mark as offensive Hopilong Oh good, don't tell us your client list. That way after you get in, you can say this one or that one wasn't a client (wink, wink). Obama sure doesn't care how much corruption goes on so long as it benefits him and his party. Mark as offensive bHUSEINo Transparency? Mark as offensive g9m4 yep, no chance of corruption in new jersey! (peoples republic of) the whole state is in the bag for obama, but sure why not hire somebody that won't tell you that half of his clients are tied to the leftist government in some way or fashion. the only reason anybody EVER won't tell you something, is because the thing he won't tell you is, what the truth is! hope that wasn't to complicated for those of you in loma linda. (lol) Mark as offensive dirkfour4 well on the positive side: an exemption that is permitted under federal ethics laws, ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE: but that leaves prosecutors on an honor system SHADES OF DICK CHENEY!!!! Mark as offensive dhfogle This suprises folks?! Obama has become accustomed to getting what he wants so why not shove a questionable appointee don't America's throat. With NJ's rep, there's a chance of mob ties but what do we expect of a politician from Chicago. He evidently doesn't think anything of potential conflicts of interest. Some day, folks will learn to draw the line and tell this guy 'enough is enough.' Hope we still have a recognizable country at that point. Mark as offensive dantemike Ethics would prevent an attorney from going into what issues he represented a client. But, not name your clients? Another criminal on Obama's appointment list. Mark as offensive gad Wake up people. This man has nothing but crooks on his staff along with the crooks in Congress. We're in big trouble. Don't count on elections anymore because if the MUSLIM has his way we won't vote anymore, this will be his Kingdom. Mark as offensive stratabuse Transparency you can beleive in America.