Breaking: Corruption-plagued US Atty nominee Stephanie Villafuerte withdraws

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 14, 2009 04:49 PM

In October, I called your attention to the smelly US Attorney nomination out of Colorado involving Stephanie Villafuerte (see here and here).

Looks like the stonewall that the Dems and DOJ built for her has collapsed under the weight of local and state pressure — compounded by tough questions from the Denver Post’s Karen Crummy and GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions and constant pounding by KHOW talk show host Peter Boyles.

She has now withdrawn her nomination. But the questions will not go away:

Stephanie Villafuerte has withdrawn her name from consideration to become Colorado’s next U.S. Attorney.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, who nominated her for the post, and Attorney General Eric Holder, Villafuerte said she was confident she would have “served well in this important position” but was withdrawing because of “political attacks” surrounding her role in the 2006 Colorado gubernatorial campaign.

“Unforunately, a needless and extraneous political fight has emerged in Colorado and that fight, in my judgment has completely overshadowed the deliberative and independent assessment of my qualifications for this important office,” Villafuerte wrote. “I continue to stand by my statements and maintain that my involvement was appropriate at all times.”

The move comes two days after U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked that consideration of her nomination as Colorado U.S. attorney be delayed because her record is “incomplete.”

In a letter to the committee’s chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sessions said he wanted answers from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about why Cory Voorhis, an immigration agent, was fired for accessing the same restricted database that Villafuerte’s former colleagues also accessed. Sessions said after asking those questions that he also became concerned that Villafuerte’s record was not complete.

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall said he was disappointed by Villfuerte’s “very personal” decision.

“I had a positive conversation with Senator Jeff Sessions, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Saturday morning in which we both agreed that the confirmation process for this office could, and should, be framed to resolve any remaining questions he or other Members of the Judiciary Committee might want to put to the U.S. Attorney nominee,” Udall said in a statement released by his office.

“Despite these assurances from Senator Sessions and despite Stephanie’s willingness to answer questions by the Judiciary Committee, it’s clear to me that a further delay in the confirmation is not good for Colorado or the office of U.S. Attorney. Stephanie has made a decision in the best interests of the office she hoped to serve, and I respect her for it.”

More to come…

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments


  1. #1
    On December 14th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, Regulus said:

    Plenty more room under the bus… who’s next?

  2. #2
    On December 14th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, willie peter said:

    Hey Daley, WTF were you thinking?

  3. #3
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:10 pm, traveler49 said:

    Is the back of her head really that high?

  4. #4
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:10 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah not to worry. There’s a job waiting for her either with Podesta or at Fannie or Freddie. Now paging Jamie Gorelick, now paging Jamie Gorelick.

  5. #5
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:11 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

    Another Leftist

    Another Scandal

    Big Ear barry, just another che in a cheap suit

  6. #6
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:14 pm, RTater said:

    I’m surprised that she went down that easily. But I’m sure the Gov will find some other way to pay her for the job she did on the ICE agent.

  7. #7
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:25 pm, graysonret said:

    Reminds me of the song, “Another one bites the dust”.

  8. #8
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:34 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    Stephanie has made a decision in the best interests of the office she hoped to serve, and I respect her for it.”

    In other words, the “best interests” she hoped to serve were her own and exposure would make that abundantly clear. Liberals never give up power voluntarily.

  9. #9
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:35 pm, California Red said:

    Thank God for the likes of Michelle Malkin, Glenn Beck, and other bloggers who fight to preserve our liberty and freedom. The first amendment Freedom of the Press was integrated into our bill of rights to stop tyrannical government.

    The Culture of Corruption is prevalent and Michelle is helping expose it to those that care to listen.

  10. #10
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:48 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    CR beat me to it.
    Michelle, it is because of the pressure you put on by exposing this story that this corruptocrat is out. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

  11. #11
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:54 pm, Hangfire said:

    Ding, ding. Ding, ding.

    1MC: “Another Obama nominee, departing.”

    DoooooWHEEEEEEEEEEEEoooooooooohhhhWHEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee

  12. #12
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:58 pm, limmo said:

    A good, whistle-blower ICE agent lost his job for doing (pretty clearly with permission from his supervisors) what others did without consequence. Thank goodness Agent Voorhis was supported by a few of his co-workers and some in the Denver media like Peter Boyles then aquitted by a jury. Yet, he’s pretty well been ruined and is still fighting to get his job back. If he had to stand trial, too bad other people who did the same thing did not. It would have been a travesty of some people gained cushy jobs after doing the same things that cost others theirs.

  13. #13
    On December 14th, 2009 at 5:58 pm, DanMan said:

    I won a bet last week on Carol Browner’s socialist ties because I had read Culture of Corruption. MM you are priceless for the work you do. Thank you thank you thank you.

  14. #14
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:05 pm, zorro said:

    Thanks for shining that disinfecting light of truth on Stephanie Villafuerte. I’m pleased that she is withdrawing.

    You’re a Freedom Fighter in the truest sense. Thanks.

  15. #15
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:08 pm, wckelly60 said:

    B-b-b-b-but, she’s a MINORITY! Don’t you know a liberal minority gets carte blanche?

    I hope that the screen door doesn’t hit ‘er where the good Lord split ‘er!

  16. #16
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:10 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    1 down

  17. #17
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:17 pm, drfredc said:

    So her problem was she didn’t Tigerize her resume?

  18. #18
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm, Truesoldier said:

    “Unforunately, a needless and extraneous political fight has emerged in Colorado and that fight, in my judgment has completely overshadowed the deliberative and independent assessment of my qualifications for this important office,” Villafuerte wrote.

    I see no one should look at your record just take your word for it….

  19. #19
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm, letget said:

    Who has this bho named that is not ‘corruption plagued’? The whole gosh horrible mess needs to be under investigation, but our dear eh will not let that happen.
    L

  20. #20
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:46 pm, shimauma2 said:

    Looks like the stonewall that the Dems and DOJ built for her has collapsed under the weight of local and state pressure

    Well, when they use bulls**t for mortar, eventually it’s gonna dry up and crumble. Glad there are watchdogs out there keeping the heat on the sneaky scum in our current regime.

  21. #21
    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:48 pm, AmericaFirst said:

    When Palin is elected President, she will need to hire 1,000,000 lawyers to prosecute all the corruption these Obama Democrats have committed. Someone tell Durbin his Jihad jails will be full and Illinois federal prison employment will skyrocket.

  22. #22
    On December 14th, 2009 at 7:19 pm, PhredE said:

    1. Thanks to Senator Sessions for standing up once again. I hope he will take the lead once again and fight back the Open Borders Lobby when the pro-amnesty forces try (again,…sigh) to float their next amnesty bill in the coming weeks (be ready folks!).

    2. Obama’s [Cabinet, Federal, etc] appointments are really quite bad. I think when the history is written about his administration his selection of appointees will likely be seen as some of the worst in the history of the country.

  23. #23
    On December 14th, 2009 at 7:52 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm, letget said:
    Who has this bho named that is not ‘corruption plagued’? The whole gosh horrible mess needs to be under investigation, but our dear eh will not let that happen.
    L

    Bingo! A complete list of all the corrupt cronies of bho takes pages and pages! It just amazes me that NO ONE in the MSM has touched on the unbelievable number of Obama’s picks who turned out to be really really bad news. Can’t any of them see this?? How can they miss it?? Has corruption become just another ho-hum, nothing to see here, move on kind of trait? Is it now just as acceptable as lying, cheating, adultery, and treason?? How can we weed out this disgusting element in our society and get our country back? Sorry for all the questions!! I didn’t mean to steal zyzz’s method of communicating…asking questions to which there are no answers!!

  24. #24
    On December 14th, 2009 at 8:03 pm, Truesoldier said:

    On December 14th, 2009 at 6:48 pm, AmericaFirst said:
    When Palin is elected President, she will need to hire 1,000,000 lawyers to prosecute all the corruption these Obama Democrats have committed.

    Of course we would have to give credit to Obama for creating all those jobs.

  25. #25
    On December 14th, 2009 at 8:19 pm, docflash said:

    I miss the good old days when the MSM almost daily let us know President Bushes people were tied to Halliburton and war profits.In normal times Oblamer’s entire crew would be in or on the way to prison.

  26. #26
    On December 14th, 2009 at 8:42 pm, Paul Revere said:

    Thank you, Michelle, for the sunshine you shine on these crooks. Next: Safe Schools Czar, then Jarrette!

  27. #27
    On December 14th, 2009 at 9:52 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Adios Princess.

  28. #28
    On December 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm, CO2 Producer said:

    I hereby withdraw my name from consideration, even though my closet has no skeletons.

    If you say so.

  29. #29
    On December 14th, 2009 at 11:01 pm, Member-VRWC said:

    Corruption-plagued US Atty nominee

    Does Obama nominate any other kind? Of course not. He doesn’t know anyone who isn’t corruption-plagued.

  30. #30
    On December 15th, 2009 at 12:34 am, Connect the Dots said:

    One man’s Communist is another man’s corruption.

  31. #31
    On December 15th, 2009 at 12:51 am, Republicanvet said:

    Good to her gone. Would have been better to see her prosecuted, but gone will do.

    On December 14th, 2009 at 7:52 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Bingo! A complete list of all the corrupt cronies of bho takes pages and pages! It just amazes me that NO ONE in the MSM has touched on the unbelievable number of Obama’s picks who turned out to be really really bad news. Can’t any of them see this?? How can they miss it?? Has corruption become just another ho-hum, nothing to see here, move on kind of trait? Is it now just as acceptable as lying, cheating, adultery, and treason?? How can we weed out this disgusting element in our society and get our country back? Sorry for all the questions!! I didn’t mean to steal zyzz’s method of communicating…asking questions to which there are no answers!!

    I hope Michelle does a final, year in review article about all the news stories totally blown off by the drive-by press corpse…I think it would be eye-opening.

    Has the media forgotten how to report on all the things you mention? No. They would get collective whiplash turning on a dime if any issues were related to Republicans, no matter how minor.

  32. #32
    On December 15th, 2009 at 9:19 am, limmo said:

    Anyone interested in more detail, catch Peter Boyles on KHOW. You can hear him via the Internet 5-9 AM, MT.
    http://www.khow.com/main.html

  33. #33
    On December 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am, cheapseat said:

    gee, michelle you have done what our fine republican senators haven’t the gones to do. they are too interested in being invited to the next d.c. party and being collegial with their enemies. obviously they will never understand that our judiciary has been confiscated by a steady infusion of communist whacko judges with an agenda of destroying the america based upon hard work and free enterprise, and creating a utopia of equality and mediocrity.

  34. #34
    On December 17th, 2009 at 11:24 am, happy2behere said:

    Without Jeff Sessions her nomination would not have been withdrawn. I emailed him a thank you. Now, onward and upward! Please pray for Cory V. and positive results in next week’s hearings regarding the lawsuit to get his job back. This is not over, and Cory’s suit may very well expose the rest of the corruption in Colorado. Let’s hope so.

You must be logged in to post a comment.


Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook