Holder: Embattled DEA chief is retiring By Evan Perez

neversickanymore

neversickanymore

Moderator: DS
Staff member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
32,757
Location
babysitting the argument in my head
Holder: Embattled DEA chief is retiring
By Evan Perez, CNN Justice Reporter
Updated 5:55 PM ET, Tue April 21, 2015

Washington (CNN)It didn't happen on 4/20 -- marijuana's high holy day -- but Michele Leonhart is stepping down in mid-May as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday.

"I want to express my appreciation to Michele, not only for her leadership of the DEA since 2007, but also for her 35 years of extraordinary service to the DEA, to the Department of Justice and to the American people," Holder said in a statement.

CNN reported earlier on Tuesday the resignation was expected.

Obama administration officials long ago soured on Leonhart, a career DEA agent who broke ground at the agency when she rose into leadership as the first woman to head a field office. In recent years, she has angered the administration for appearing to resist federal rules relaxing enforcement on marijuana as states have moved to legalize the drug for medicinal and recreational use.

More recently, she came under fire for her poor performance in a congressional hearing on an inspector general report that found instances of DEA agents having sex parties in Colombia with prostitutes paid for by drug cartels. The report cited light punishments for the agents and Leonhart seemed at a loss about what she could do about it.

The top lawmakers of the House Oversight Committee, which Leonhart appeared before, issued a joint statement welcoming the news of her departure.

"In light of the DOJ Inspector General's report and the testimony we heard before our committee, Ms. Leonhart's resignation is the appropriate consequence," said Republican chairman Jason Chaffetz and Democrat Elijah Cummings. "With the opportunity now for fresh leadership, we are hopeful that the DEA can restore itself to an agency of distinction and excellence."

On Monday -- 4/20 -- word spread around Washington that Leonhart had met with Justice Department officials to discuss her departure and how to handle succession at the top of the agency. Officials had hoped to have her departure announced before Loretta Lynch, the attorney general nominee awaiting Senate confirmation, took office.

continued http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/politics/dea-leonhart-resigning-marijuana/

...................................................................................................

Dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.. sup seeeya.
 
I'd like to think our recent criticism of Leonhart contributed to this sudden exit =D She got the news on 4/20 to boot, so sweet.
 
She's been on the plank of the sinking ship that is the war on drugs for some time...I think when the sex parties with cartel prostitutes came to light it was done. Plus they had some Colombian cop, prob corrupt, hold the agents guns and other stuff. Dea really is a good ol boys club and Leonhard had virtually no control. The amount of money that gets thrown at the war on drugs could be used to actually help ppl instead of sending them to jail for stupid shit like weed or small amounts for sale or person all use.

Of course the dea is aligned with the cartels, they have the most to lose if the us ends the war on drugs. The enemy of my enemy is my ally.
 
Goodbye Michelle.

Maybe... just maybe, you started your career at the DEA with the sincere belief that the agency's intention to selectively stop non-violent, otherwise law abiding Americans from using mind altering substances was indeed a noble one. And I say "selectively" because, when it comes to "drugs of abuse," you and I both know that there's no way Alcohol or Tobacco/Nicotine would be legal today if it had become popular only in the past 5 decades or so.

The reality is however, that this era of a clear system of double standards, where some drugs are legal for no good reason, and others are not for no good reason, has succeeded only in creating a tragically colossal path of death and destruction, along with the world's number one jailor of its citizens, as well as a society in which the police now think of their duty as an "us (law enforcement) versus them (public)" game, has spiraled out of control.

As unlikely as it may turn out to be, I pray that your successor can comprehend the needless, senseless, and avoidable damage your administration has done to countless innocent Americans that wouldn't hurt a living soul, yet are generally treated as if they are a danger to society if not in custody. I also pray that he or she has the courage to dramatically change that.

That's right. I pray that the DEA stops unjustly treading all over ordinary Americans for no good reason. Perhaps you should go help with the rape kits which are collecting dust because it's not worth the money your time to investigate them.

Hey, it's probably a pipedream; probably way too much for me to pray that you guys switch to solving actual crimes.

Admittedly, it may not fall under your jurisdiction, but still, have you not had enough of this unwinnable war on (people who would prefer to use certain) drugs?

Michelle, I hope you can live with yourself after the burden you've placed on the American people - far more than any drug use during the same time period would have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top