More Fuss for Gus
Once thought to be a sure thing, Gus Puryear's nomination to the federal bench is now in serious trouble. A devastating story published on Time magazine's website yesterday alleged that the young attorney whitewashed company reports in his role as corporate counsel for Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). The story revolves around Ronald T. Jones, a former CCA prison manager described as a loyal Republican like the judicial nominee himself.
Jones claims Puryear oversaw a reporting system in which the company basically lied to its public-sector clients, minimizing outbreaks of prison disturbances in the jails it operates. In theory at least, CCA is supposed to provide thorough and objective reports to the government agencies who have outsourced the management of its jails to the private company. But Jones says his ex-boss Puryear masked or omitted details that could result in litigation, fines or bad press. That aside, he behaved admirably.
“When Puryear felt there was highly sensitive or potentially damaging information to CCA, I would then be directed to remove that information from an audit report,” Jones told Time.com.
Today, The Tennessean published a well-reported front-page story that included additional details, including how in 2005 a CCA official once had the temerity to issue a memo with potentially damaging information about a prison incident. That led to a change in company policy—in which any reports to be made public had to be cleared by the office of the general counsel.
The Private Corrections Institute, which has led the charge against Puryear, issued a press release calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to summon the nominee back to Washington for yet another hearing. The group may well get its wish. It's been a dismal week for Puryear—right as he tries to explain his membership in the historically discriminatory Belle Meade Country Club, he now will likely have to defend himself against serious charges of turning CCA’s cold, hard facts into creative fiction.
It's still possible for Puryear to survive this latest onslaught of bad press and go on to become a good judge. But considering how much trouble he's had so far convincing people he's up for the job, couldn't the Bush administration have just plucked someone else? There are plenty of intelligent Republican attorneys in Nashville. How many of them have Puryear's baggage?
Comments
John Ferguson complained in the Tennessean yesterday about attacks on that paragon of corporate accountability, CCA. If I might summarize and be allowed a little artistic license.
-----------
Ladies and Gentlemen. In the very white trunks in the Philistine corner we have the champion, John L. Ferguson, the bold Goliath of billion-dollar CCA.
And in this corner, wearing the blackest of the black trunks, we have David, a.k.a. Alex Friedman, all 5'6" or so of him. You'll note that name. He may be one of the Chosen People, but he's not OUR chosen people. Friedman has chosen not to wear armor but is carrying a slingshot. He represents the tiny citizen watchdog group, the Private Corrections Institute.
Goliath whines that PCI was founded by a scoundrel whose day job is that of a union lobbyist. Please note that CCA spent $2.5 million lobbying in D.C. alone last year.
Ferguson then cleverly plays the discrimination card. The Tennessean, he notes endorsed another parasitic industry, charter schools, whose mission is to educate the children of the rich at public expense, leaving public schools entirely responsible for the education of problem and disabled students. They in effect should pick at the bones of the Thanksgiving turkey.
He also notes that CCA has 600 Nashville-area employees. The vast majority of those are paid chicken feed to guard murderers and rapists on the night shift. But if you average pay, say $8 an hour for CCA guards, along with Ferguson's salary and stock awards for 2006, $22.5 million, then the "average" CCA pay is $11.2 million. What a boon they are to Metro Nashville.
And, the gladiators are out at the bell. Goliath roars. Friedman unloads. Goliath is DOWN!
Goliath: "Mommeee! Oooh! He threw a STONE at me." (sob)
We all know what happens next. It's right there in the Bible. (I can't watch.)
Posted 03/14/2008 at 04:04:09 PMFor more on the Puryear nomination, and reasons why his confirmation isn't a good thing, please visit: www.againstpuryear.org. You'll be glad, and sorry, you did!
Posted 04/12/2008 at 10:47:17 AM