Building Fire at DOJ Covers Raid, Shredding or Disclosure?

A FIRE, literally, - I'm not kidding - "occurred" today at the DOJ that coincided with the political firestorm engulfing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' Department of Justice. The incident was reported as an electrical fire on the DOJ Website, escaped national mediaplay, and resulted in the closure of the Patrick Henry Building on 601 D Street, NW.. Continuity of Operations Procedures (COOP)were enacted, no regular Justice Department Workers were to be present.

Wanna know what's in the building???.....

The DOJ Website noted the incident and indicated the building was expected to be open by tomorrow, but advised affected workers to listen to local media for further instructions.

As noted elsewhere, ABC News reported that  the Department of Justice "released" this evening thousands of new relevant emails related  to the politically motivated firings of numerous US Attorneys around the country. The Patrick Henry Building houses the following offices:

The  Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice,
Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division, at the Department of Justice.

Department of Justice, Policy and. Planning Staff, Justice Management. Division, Patrick Henry Building, Suite. 1600, 601 D Street, NW., Washington, .

Experienced/Lateral Attorney Program Coordinator, Antitrust Division Personnel Unit, Room 10805, 601 D Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530

What do you make of today's Fire at the Justice Department?

I don't know about you but I still smell something burning.

•  FLAMES? Marshmellows? GASOLINE?

  by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:17:31 PM PDT

  •  smores

    please.

    by Chamonix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:21:57 PM PDT

    •  mmm... smores

      

      by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:29:27 PM PDT

      •  Thanks Trix, I prefer my Smores

        to Popcorn, especially during the part when the AG helps bring down an entire administration. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

        by Chamonix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:36:35 PM PDT

      •  Oooh, that's the darkest chocolate

        I think I've ever seen. On a 'smore anyway.

        In fact I'm not sure they had invented dark chocolate, or at least imported it to the heathen Midwest, the last time I ate a s'more. Alas for my misspent youth. :)

        by Xan on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 12:11:31 AM PDT

  •  MSM should FOIA who went in that building today.

    Normal working stiffs were kept out but it would be interesting to see who got in.

    by cosette on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:19:55 PM PDT

    •  When Main Justice was evacuated on 9/11,

      John Yoo stayed behind in his OLC office, and was in communication with lawyers in the White House.

      by lysias on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 05:24:46 AM PDT

  •  Send this to: Talking Points Memo

    Josh Marshall might be able to do something with it.
    They've really been on this USA story.

    by cosette on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:31:25 PM PDT

    •  I hope it gets rec'd up, picked up,

      then used as a CLUB on Abu Al and the Gitmo lovin' crowd. Makes for a warming human interest story, no?

      There's gotta be somethin else goin on, other than

      Breaking! Gitmo Detainee Confesses as Hoffa Killer!
      Kahleed Sheik Muhammed behind All Lost Socks in Laundry!

      by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:40:13 PM PDT

•  Oh, Electrical To Boot

  That explains all the erased HDs that would have withstood any conventional fire. Nice. That said, I'm just being gratuitously snarky for sport and I stand by my recent statement that none of this really matters, and is a distraction par excellence from taking exception to policy.

  by NewDirection on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:20:49 PM PDT

  •  electrical fires

    hmm. Reminds me of the kitchen fires of mob restaurants that go up in flames at 3:00 AM with the kitchens being closed for 5 hours.

    by MadAsHellMaddie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:36:21 PM PDT

    •  Reminds me of the suspicious fire at the NSA

      facility in Fort Meade last October, just as it became clear that there would certainly be Democratic leadership in the House. The timing of that one was almost as suspicious as this.

      by ChemGeek on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:58:33 PM PDT

      •  and, um, didn't bushie's guard records get

        all burneded up, too?

        some things never change.  nope.  never.

        by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:18:33 PM PDT

        •  I believe

          w's TANG records were stored in boxes with some discarded doritos and coke cans and unfortuneately they were gnawed up a bit and littered with rat poop.

          by cosette on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:23:34 PM PDT

          •  what, cheney and rummy were locked in with

            those records?  shame SHAME!

            by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:27:28 PM PDT

      •  wow

        I didn't know that one!  Holy crap.  I am soo tired of these thugs.

        by MadAsHellMaddie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:13:48 PM PDT

•  I suppose computers and their hard drives will

  malfunction due to the electrical fire. Nixon should have thought of this solution.

  by paige on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:21:38 PM PDT

•  are we sure it wasn't someone's

  Career going up in Flames?

  by Chamonix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:23:30 PM PDT

  •  It's getting hot in here just take off Gonzales

    in handcuffs (keepin it clean)

    by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:25:14 PM PDT

•  I could burn this whole place down

  

  by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:26:13 PM PDT

  •  That guy'll probably be found rolled up

    in a carpet somewhere...

    by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:27:56 PM PDT

  •  OMG

    Too Funny.

    by revm3up on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:30:13 PM PDT

  •  I believe

    you have my stapler.

    by God loves goats on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:36:16 PM PDT

    •  here it is...

      

      ... right on top of the TPS cover sheet you forgot to use.

      by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:39:49 PM PDT

  •  did you know that swingline does not make

    red staplers? the one for the movie was a "special" one...

    my favorite of ALL favorite workplace movies - yep, riiiiiiggghhhhttt!

    you got FLARE! trix!  yes indeedie - you got FLARE!

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:16:49 PM PDT

    •  they started making them after the movie

      you can get one at ThinkGeek.com for $21.99

      :-)

      by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:18:35 PM PDT

      •  do they send a complimentary booklet of matches?

        heh heh heh

        by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:28:13 PM PDT

        •  I don't know...

          and I'm not about to spend $22 on a stapler to find out.

          :-)

          by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:31:01 PM PDT

          •  now, trix - you must not have worked for

            an initech in your life.  i am actually seriously plotting how and when i'll have an extra $22 to buy one!

            oh, btw, for a swingline, that isn't a bad price!  i still have my CBS one... or did have ages ago... sigh.

            by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:36:33 PM PDT

            •  I was working for AmEx during the dotcom era...

              and purchasing staplers wasn't one of my job responsibilities.

              nowadays I don't have much use for a stapler (red or otherwise) since most of my work is done and transmitted online.

              by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:39:43 PM PDT

              •  that being said...

                I started reading and posting on FuckedCompany.com the day it was launched and continued doing so for years... til it started to suck.

                I was fascinated by the Initechs, and often thought of leaving AmEx to join one.

                by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:47:47 PM PDT

            •  to clarify, cbs was NOT my initech - i have quite

              a few of those - like halston, crap (oh, oops, corp) - the ad agency that let me go because i wouldn't "go out with" the clients for "dinner" - (the main course they bought, i was supposed to be the "dessert")  funny, i kept mistyping corp the entire time i worked there - heh heh think i got all of them corrected - but it was MY pleasurable secret!

              ah yes, a nice book of matches...

              and then there was O&Y construction (of olympia and york fame - the now deceased company that went bankrupt trying to keep the sr vp who fired me for not sleeping with him from testifying before the eeoc... heh heh - he blew the entire canarsy wharf project in england and bankrupted the fourth largest real estate holding company in north america.  and i got a REALLY expensive swedish warmblood horse out of it!

              ah, who needs a red stapler when you have "justice" on your side!  

              by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:40:53 PM PDT

              •  LOL

                I'm laughing with you... not at you.

                by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:42:03 PM PDT

                •  everytime i think of o&y i smile from ear to ear!

                  i met the cousin of the four brothers who (used to) own the company last year - when we were introduced, she started to grin - recognized my name - evidently she thinks the cousins are bits of jerks, too - we hit it off great!

                  never back off from a fight when you know you are right.  you can change the world - or, at least, a little piece of it!

                  never did that company dream in its wildest that by protecting a predator (he had fired five women in two years - i was the first to stand up and say NO WAY! SUCKER!) they would lose everything!

                  the ONLY reason he was sent overseas was to keep him from that hearing - he must have known where SOME skeletons were buried in a not so shallow grave - because they moved mountains to keep him away from the hearing - as a result, he put them totally out of business!  the last of the holdings were finally sold off last spring - and i was googling and laughing the entire time!

                  the ass vp hired women for the first time in the contruction trade as project managers.  all but one had been "required" to "screw" him to get and keep their jobs.  as one said to her boyfriend (who was another manager who worked with me), i want the job and this is the only way to get it!  the women project managers at o&y were the first in the industry - working hard to break ground in an industry that was heavily dominated by sexist men.  the women would go in to give their project reports to a table filled with slavering mafiosas... it was really quite something to see.  but they did it - they broke the concrete ceiling!

                  the price women pay to be the first is never pretty.

                  some of us just refuse to play the game and then hold the violators accountable... are willing to lose everything on principle.  i was virtually blackballed in the industry - which didn't bother me in the least - wasn't planning on working in that trade for long anyway.  but i DID make a difference!  every company member knew of the suit and the outcome - and most other companies in ny knew of it as well - it's a small world in the construction trade.

                  ah, those were the days...

                  by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:50:41 PM PDT

                  •  Wow... sounds pretty crazy.

                    would it be inappropriate of me to ask you post a pic?

                    just kidding... could you e-mail it to me.

                    ;-)

                    by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:54:46 PM PDT

                    •  have we met before? i get that feeling...

                      do you have email?

                      oh, i'm significantly older now... my email addy is in my profile - email me.

                      by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:00:39 PM PDT

                      •  haha... I was just kidding.

                        you're a good sport.

                        :-)

                        by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:01:59 PM PDT

                        •  my greatest "worry" is that one day one of the

                          poor snooks i write about will be blogging and read their sordid history here.... whew! you had me worried - i was scrounging around for a good looking picture of some stranger i could email... heh heh heh -

                          btw, your website looks fun... maybe one day i'll stop by and "play"...

                          in the meantime - back to work - been shirking too much today - have a new business venture meself (well, with a friend) that is in the near birth stage and i have been slacking off tonite.  back to finding biodegradeable paper goods, organic produce, storage containers and more... oh my!

                          by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:08:30 PM PDT

                          •  cool...

                            good luck with your venture.

                            :-)

                            by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:09:20 PM PDT

                            •  sugar and spice - spiced tea, homemade lemonade,

                              organic iced tea, hot tea, biodynamic coffee, and green green green recycled everything from cold cups made of corn to "corn" straws that are also biodegradeable... down to the loose sleeves for indy cups that are also biodegradeable.

                              we're going organic, renewable and fresh!  and, oh, my PARTNER will be "sugar" no matter HOW much she tries to pin that moniker on me!  nuh HUH!!! NO WAY!!! NOPE!!! NOT GONNA!!!!  I am SPICE!

                              by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:12:05 PM PDT

                              •  yummy!

                                sounds like a great idea... best of luck with it.

                                by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:14:10 PM PDT

•  Great catch!

  This is soooo weird.

  by LithiumCola on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:30:17 PM PDT

  •  weird is not the word I would've chosen...

    suspicious seems a bit more appropriate.

    by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:44:34 PM PDT

•  this diary is Literally

  Unbelievable, UnFuckingUnbelievable. Kinda like the Lockdown in Ohio during Election '04 because of Homeland Security in that Polling place in Ohio. Or GW's Bro being the Governor of Florida during the Recount in 2000. These FUCKERS really need to play POWERBALL or MEGA MILLIONS. American History books will be labeled FICTION when reading chapters during the King George OCCUPATION.  

  by Chamonix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:31:54 PM PDT

  •  I went to DOJ website for email link

    read the notice, did some digging... If theres any Justice in the world, maybe I can trade in a little mojo tomorrow for about 10 new pairs of boxers.  Yet another OOOPS I crapped my Pants! Moment in the ERA of Bush. No MSM whatsoever. Notice admonition for employees to listen to local media. Some continuity plan.

    by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:37:50 PM PDT

    •  I think you can say you heard it first on 'kos.

      by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:39:15 PM PDT

•  This is much better than the high intensity lamp

  that Nixon blames the famous 18 1/2 minute gap on.  I don't think these morons realize that emails can not be deleted.  

  The way they operate, they should be communicating using flash paper, like the bookies use.

  by groggy on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:32:42 PM PDT

  •  Gonzo surely realized emails can't be deleted

    If anyone can appreciate how e-mails can be hoovered into perpetual storage, it's our A.G.
    That's exactly why the man does not use e-mail.

    I believe the same goes for Chertoff, if I remember an interview in the NY Times Sunday magazine properly.

    by ChemGeek on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:47:11 PM PDT

    •  Such a luddite

      Still uses paper. Old fashioned, flammable paper.

      by Olds88 on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:03:29 PM PDT

  •  damn! we are thinking the same thing -

    posted before i read your comment - great minds and all that back atcha!

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:24:39 PM PDT

•  Nothing More Than a 3rd Rate Arson nt

  by Gooserock on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:34:21 PM PDT

  •  harumpf - heard it only burned

    for 18 1/2 minutes...  

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:23:52 PM PDT

•  Has anyone found the Fire Dept. report?

  I am curious about that.
  Excellent find, Robert.

  by cosette on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:35:11 PM PDT

  •  I just called the DCFD on 450 6th st

    (South West) and asked about it. I asked if they were the closest FD to the building he said yeh, probably (they were the closest ) but he hadn't heard anything about it, was night shift and suggested calling back in the morning. I asked if in fact DCFD handles responds to federal Buildings and he said sure,
    {Like I just walked out of a potato patch ; {p]}

    by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:03:20 PM PDT

    •  DCFD Public Affairs

      Was listed here.

      Recording cited office hours 9-5.

      I'm going to call back in the morning.

      by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:10:35 PM PDT

      •  Kool!

        I've been googling a bit and haven't found anything. Was going to check the local TV/Radio sites.

        by cosette on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:12:14 PM PDT

•  Everyone out of the building!

  "That isn't firefighting equipment, why those look like shredders!" --

  by ZappoDave on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:45:22 PM PDT

  •  overheated - motors caught fire.... yep. nt

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:22:31 PM PDT

    •  A pallet jack

      carrying documents short circuited. Damage is limited.
      Clean up will be complete in a few hours. Lunch will be served at the Hilton.  Carry on ... as if everything is usual. Thank you, Gonezo

      by ZappoDave on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:44:42 PM PDT

      •  Note!

        That is not a real email from the Current Document Dump and is NOT from TPM. (but it could be ...)

        by ZappoDave on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:56:17 PM PDT

•  I blame Congress!

  This wouldn't have happened if  Gonzales wasn't distracted with these silly investigation and subpoenas! With all this oversight, there is just no time left for fire safety!

  by Olds88 on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 09:51:33 PM PDT

  •  there's another possiblity along those lines...

    maybe it wasn't an electrical fire, but rather, the Democrats' burning of Gonzales at the stake got out of hand.

    by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:01:16 PM PDT

    •  Expect both theories...

      to be explored on Fox News tomorrow.

      by Olds88 on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:04:38 PM PDT

      •  today on Cavuto....

        FIRE AT THE DOJ
        COULD IT BE A GOOD THING?

        by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:06:02 PM PDT

        •  And then

          We can be cursed with Robertson saying something stupid like, "Well, if the documents they were trying to get to Congress when up in smoke, it was the Lord's will."  And then find some way to blame gays, blacks, Wiccans and prepubsecent boys named Luke.

          by fabooj on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:12:21 PM PDT

          •  How's you and yours?

            I've seen picks of wee one and the house ; )

            by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:14:48 PM PDT

            •  We're okay

              Right now the kids are running around trying to avoid bedtime and it sounds like they've officially gotten into trouble.  How's it all going with you?

              by fabooj on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:17:21 PM PDT

              •  I'm , ah, fired up.

                by Robert Davies on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:20:48 PM PDT

                •  very punny!

                  :-)

                  by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:22:32 PM PDT

                •  Dork.

                  HAHAHAHAHHA

                  by fabooj on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:23:09 PM PDT

          •  it's all part and parcel of the same thing...

            obviously, God would have burned the documents to get back at Democrats for embracing gays, blacks, Wiccans and other hedonists and blasphemers.

            by Trix on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:16:50 PM PDT

  •  wrong again - it was clinton's fault

    he left his cigar laying around...

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:21:19 PM PDT

•  If someone tried to publish this, their editor

  would say, 'Nah. Been done before. Try again.'

  This is totally unfuckingbelievable. Somebody at the DOJ has been watching too many B Grade movies, so I voted shredder, because that's what the plot demands.

  :O

  by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:04:32 PM PDT

  •  they COULDA said, the DOG ate my EMAILS!!! n/t

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:20:28 PM PDT

    •  BWAAAHAAAHAAA...Tears down my face :)...

      by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:22:47 PM PDT

    •  Just expeditiously meeting the requirements of

      The Paperwork Reduction Act

      (Frank Luntz told me every action has two sides: The ugly Truth, and the pretty, Republican version.)

      by fouro on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:39:33 PM PDT

•  I blame tarists

  Go to red alert.

  by overlander on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:08:57 PM PDT

  •  nope... it was terra-ists...

    from "earth wind and fire" - liberal commie freaks!

    by edrie on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:19:50 PM PDT

  •  Were those tarists

    accompanied by featherists?

    by 3card on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:20:25 PM PDT

•  Flames?

  

  It's not the fall that kills you, it's the backpedalling. But the flames do add a certain festive touch.

  by fouro on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:10:27 PM PDT

  •  Love this graph! n/t

    by cosette on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:26:26 PM PDT

•  Okay, so I'm a DoJ employee

  I smell smoke.  My first instinct is to check the external website to see what to do?

  by fabooj on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:13:45 PM PDT

  •  Wrong. UR 1st instinct should be to

    call Karl Rove and ask "Am I smelling smoke?"

    by fouro on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 10:24:23 PM PDT

•  The Industrial Paper Shredders burnt up

  with overuse.

  Never, never brave me, nor my fury tempt:
    Downy wings, but wroth they beat;
  Tempest even in reason's seat.

  by GreyHawk on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 11:09:53 PM PDT

•  Just burning some unneeded documents...

  ....copies of the old version of the US Constitution.

  by xynz on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 04:53:43 AM PDT