OSC Probes U.S. Attorney in Minnesota

Eric Black, a former reporter at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports on his blog today that the Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations that Rachel Paulose, U.S. attorney for Minnesota, mishandled classified information and retaliated against career employees in her office who challenged her actions and her management style. Four top career officials already have taken demotions to non-supervisory jobs to protest Paulose's management of the office, Black reports. Investigators from two OSC regional offices have been to Minnesota to interview witnesses.

Paulose's predecessor, Thomas Heffelfinger, resigned in February 2006. Later, Black has reported, he learned that his name was on a list of U.S. attorneys targeted for dismissal by the Justice Department.