3 U.S. Attorneys In Minneapolis Office Resign

Friday, April 6th 2007, 6:51 am

By: News On 6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Three lawyers in the U.S. Attorney's office here, including at least one lawyer in a senior position, have resigned from their management posts, the office announced.

U.S. Attorney Rachel Palouse released a statement Thursday saying three lawyers had stepped down, but did not specify which three, according to local newspaper and television reports. The three will return to prosecuting cases, according to the reports.

She said ``the management team supports the decisions of the three who stepped down.'' She did not comment on what led to the decisions.

Jeff Paulsen, a prosecutor of 18 years, was named chief of the office's criminal division, according to Palouse's statement.

The post had belonged to James Lackner. The Associated Press was unable to find a home phone number for Lackner. An after hours phone message left for U.S. attorneys office spokeswoman Karen Bailey was not immediately returned.

The other two new managers will be named shortly, Palouse said.