This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Washington • Rep. Jason Chaffetz is asking the White House why it hasn't appointed a U.S. Attorney for Utah and left the top federal prosecutor job in the state unfilled for more than a year.
In a letter to President Barack Obama, the freshman congressman said he wants answers on why the White House hasn't been able to nominate anyone for the state.
"While the acting (now interim) U.S. Attorney has by all accounts done an admirable job filling in, the fact remains that the position is vacant and has been for nearly a year," Chaffetz wrote. "Simply put, the people of the State of Utah need and deserve a U.S. Attorney."
Carlie Christensen, a federal prosecutor for 19 years, was appointed interim U.S. attorney after President George W. Bush nominee Brett Tolman resigned from the job in December. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Schwendiman was thought to be a shoo-in for the position but announced in July that the White House was not going to nominate him.
Thomas Burr