In news from Washington, investigative journalist Murray Waas has revealed that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales signed a highly confidential order in March 2006 delegating two of his top aides extraordinary authority over the hiring and firing of Justice Department employees. The existence of the order suggests that a broad effort was underway by the White House to place politically and ideologically loyal appointees throughout the Justice Department, not just at the U.S. attorney level. The two aides given the authority were Gonzales’ chief of staff Kyle Sampson and his White House liaison Monica Goodling. Both Sampson and Goodling have since resigned. On Monday, Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy described the development as disturbing and highly troubling. Leahy said, “This secret order would seem to be evidence of an effort to hardwire control over law enforcement by White House political operatives.”