Veteran Prosecutor Named in Minnesota

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is replacing youth with experience, naming veteran prosecutor Frank Magill to take over for embattled Rachel Paulose as U.S. attorney for Minnesota.

Magill, 48, the first assistant U.S. attorney, will take over the position on Sunday, Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said. Under federal law, he can remain acting U.S. attorney for up to 210 days, Carr said.

Paulose, who was just 32 when she was appointed and went on to a string of management problems, is leaving the post to take a job with the Justice Department in Washington later this month.

Magill was one of the staffers named to management posts in the Minnesota office last year, to replace three supervisors who resigned to return to prosecuting cases. Those resignations prompted a visit from a high-ranking Justice official and fueled criticism of Paulose's performance. Paulose announced plans to depart in November. She didn't return a phone call on Thursday, and Magill declined to comment.

Last year's office shake-up under Paulose occurred just as Congress was investigating allegations that eight U.S. attorneys were fired and replaced by loyalists of President Bush, raising questions about then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' credibility and independence.

Later, it emerged that some Justice Department officials had considered firing her predecessor, and Paulose became caught in the crossfire with renewed questions about cronyism and whether she had enough experience for the job. Her predecessor, Tom Heffelfinger, had resigned and returned to private practice.

Both Minnesota senators, Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Norm Coleman, praised Magill's appointment.

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