Big news from the Washington Post: D.C. Attorney General Linda Singer has resigned after less than a year on the job.
Singer tendered her resignation this morning, having reportedly been frustrated for months with her role in the Fenty administration. Fenty has been relying more heavily on General Counsel Peter Nickles, whom the mayor has apparently now named as the interim attorney general.
The timing of Singer’s departure, just months before Supreme Court arguments are set be heard in March in the District’s handgun ban case, is inopportune at best. Singer is the first Fenty nominee to step down since the Mayor took office in January.
UPDATE: Mike DeBonis wonders:
Does this mean Nickles will actually be moving to the District? A bit of controversy erupted when Nickles declined to move from his suburban Virginia home into the District after being named general counsel. The city argued that Nickles’ position was required to be D.C.-domiciled under the law, but the AG’s spot certainly is.
Good point, and one the D.C. Council will have to bring up during any confirmation process.
UPDATE II: DeBonis quotes a Fenty spokesperson saying that Nickles will not be put forward as the permanent AG. No word on who that might be yet.
At-large Council member Phil Mendelson has sent out a harsh statement via email of the Fenty administration in reaction to Singer’s resignation. It reads in part:
Linda Singer’s resignation comes as a complete surprise and does not bode well for the office. The Office of the Attorney General is critical to the District government’s success. As the city’s law firm, this office defends the city, prosecutes on behalf of the city, and provides critical legal support to every city agency. The abrupt resignation creates renewed instability and concerns me greatly.
That Peter Nickles will be interim Attorney General is a mistake. There is a principal deputy AG who served quite well as acting Attorney General previously, and there are other deputies who are well qualified and who can step up temporarily. To appoint one of them would not only promote competence but provide stability to this important office in this moment of instability. On the other hand, Mr. Nickles has been a source of friction. Moreover, he is not a District resident. So if nothing else, we know there will be more turnover.
Mendelson goes on to wag his finger at Fenty for his having to learn about Singer’s resignation from the Washington Post, praise Singer and lament her choice to leave.
