Head of DOJ's Civil Division Resigns

The Associated Press

September 07, 2007

Assistant Attorney General Peter D. Keisler, who oversaw the Bush administration's lengthy legal fight over the rights of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, announced his resignation Thursday as head of the civil division.

Keisler's departure comes in the wake of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' own resignation.

Keisler is the latest senior official to leave at a time when lawmakers have criticized the department for not being politically independent from the White House.

President Bush nominated Keisler for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, but the Senate has not acted on the nomination.

Keisler officially resigns Sept. 21. The department said Keisler has no immediate plans other than to spend time with his family.

Before taking charge of the civil division in 2003, Keisler was a principal deputy associate attorney general and acting associate attorney general. He came to the department from the Washington law firm of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood.

He also served as associate counsel to President Reagan.