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Carol Chieko Lam
Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California
Fired Federal Prosecutor, Anti-Corruption Champion
Overview
Carol Lam served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California from 2002 until her firing on February 15, 2007, as part of the Bush administration's political purge of federal prosecutors. Lam successfully prosecuted Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham for accepting $2.4 million in bribes, the largest congressional bribery case in U.S. history. She was fired while actively investigating defense contractor Brent Wilkes and CIA executive director Kyle "Dusty" Foggo. Internal DOJ emails from Kyle Sampson explicitly cited her corruption prosecutions as the reason she needed to be replaced: "The real problem we have right now with Carol Lam."
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Fired for prosecuting Republican corruption
Was actively investigating CIA executive Dusty Foggo when removed
Kyle Sampson emails explicitly targeted her for removal due to Cunningham prosecution
Her firing directly obstructed ongoing anti-corruption investigations
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
Alberto Gonzales
Attorney General who authorized her firing
David Iglesias
Fellow fired U.S. Attorney and whistleblower
Harriet Miers
White House Counsel who architected the attorney purge plan
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- 1959
- Birthplace
- United States
Education
- •B.A., Yale University
- •J.D., Stanford Law School
Key Timeline
2002
Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California
2005-11-28
Congressman Duke Cunningham pleads guilty to $2.4 million in bribes - largest congressional bribery case in history
2006-03
Secures Cunningham sentencing; continues investigating defense contractor Brent Wilkes and CIA official Kyle "Dusty" Foggo
2006-11
Kyle Sampson emails state "The real problem we have right now with Carol Lam" - recommending her replacement be ready immediately
2007-01
Notified of termination as part of the coordinated U.S. Attorney purge
2007-02-15
Officially removed from office; ongoing corruption investigations disrupted
2007-06
Despite her removal, the Foggo investigation continues and Foggo is eventually convicted of fraud and conspiracy
2008-09
DOJ Inspector General report confirms her firing was improperly political