In Michigan, U.S. Attorney Margaret Chiara has announced her resignation. She refused to elaborate on her departure, but some believe she was forced to step down by the Bush administration. At least seven federal prosecutors have resigned in recent months in what some have described as a political purge. All of the resignations have occurred since Congress passed an obscure provision in the USA PATRIOT Act that allows the U.S. attorney general to name replacements to open U.S. attorney posts without Senate confirmation.