Ashcroft Deal Brings Scrutiny in Justice Dept.

"When the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey needed to find an outside lawyer to monitor a large corporation willing to settle criminal charges out of court last fall, he turned to former Attorney General John Ashcroft, his onetime boss. With no public notice and no bidding, the company awarded Mr. Ashcroft an 18-month contract worth $28 million to $52 million." No worries, this will all be smoothed over; Ashcroft is at the high end of the JustUs department.