Bloodless Coup

Claude Allen: Bush Advisor, Judicial Nominee, Felon?

Claude Allen had quite the resume and quite the conservative fan base. A former law clerk to famously right-wing Judge David Sentelle of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, he went on to work at Baker Botts, served as the Deputy Secretary of HHS, then as President Bush's domestic policy adviser, and between those last two senior positions President Bush had nominated Allen to a life-tenured slot on the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals - the famously right-wing circuit court that sadly includes West Virginia. Allen wasn't confirmed to the bench, but not because of anything to do with his far-right credentials or ideology. He was blocked because the senators from Maryland objected to a "Maryland seat" on that court going to a Virginian (don't you just love the way the Senate works?). Still, even though he didn't get that post, his career was on the rise, he was playing a central role in the Bush administration, and he was one of the best known and most influential conservative African Americans in Washington. When he mysteriously resigned recently the White House officially stated (ok, lied) that it was so that he could spend more time with his family, and there was much specualtion that he was resigning over a point of principle - that this celebrated social conservative was distressed over the lack of accomodation being given to military chaplains who wanted to preach their particular faith.

So why exactly did Allen resign? Well, let's say that he appears to be yet another social conservative who finds it impossible to practices what he preaches. And like a number of people associated with President Bush, it appears he may have broken the law. But unlike most of that rogues gallery of supposedly honorable and dignified men - Allen's actually been charged with felonies. I wonder if Boyden Gray might now rethink his remarks about the man's fitness to be a federal judge.