Kieran Shanahan hopes the next U.S. attorneys keep the focus on corruption.
The Raleigh lawyer, who worked as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1984 to 1989, notes that federal prosecutors have played an important role in rooting out corruption in North Carolina.
Shanahan, a Republican, points to the successful prosecutions of former Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps, former Speaker Jim Black and former Reps. Michael Decker and Thomas Wright, all Democrats.
"The one watchdog for the people of North Carolina has been prosecutors in the Eastern District," he said. "It would be a disappointment if they did not continue that effort."
Shanahan said that federal prosecutors are "uniquely equipped" to handle corruption investigations because they are politically insulated, have larger budgets and nationwide subpoena powers and can empanel investigative grand juries, a power that state and local prosecutors do not have.
He noted that U.S. attorneys often have different priorities in Republican and Democratic administrations, saying he expects the next prosecutors to focus more on cases involving white collar crime and environmental regulations.
"I think this administration might be more inclined to go after business," he said.
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Re: Shanahan: Keep investigating corruption
I don't disagree that citizens and watchdog groups are needed, but there's no question that we have to have a strong and independent minded U. S. Attorney.
Basnight is correct that it shouldn't be anyone openly partisan. I think that might rule Shanahan out even if he weren't GOP. But for that matter, i don't think Shanahan had himself in mind when he made those comments about the effectiveness of the GOP U. S. Attorney here in prosecuting a few Democrats whose names we'd like to forget for a moment.
Everybody is angling for position right now, so these tidbits are interesting. Maybe not as captivating as the dog thing, but still.