Sensenbrenner takes on water, so he throws aide overboard

A House Judiciary counsel who played a key role in Rep. F. Jim Sensebrenner's meddling in a federal drug case in Chicago has lost his job, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Sensenbrenner, as reported here on July 10, contacted the chief appeals judge in Chicago and demanded a longer sentence for a convicted drug dealer.

That, of course, is a big no-no. The Trib reports:

Sensenbrenner could face a complaint before the House ethics committee, because House rules prohibit communicating privately with judges on legal matters. In addition, general rules of litigation prohibit contacting judges on a case without notifying all parties, which Sensenbrenner did not do.

The American Judicature Society, a non-partisan group that works for judicial independence, criticized Sensenbrenner after the letter became public for "attempting to bully federal judges."

Sensenbrenner hasn't admitted any wrongdoing, of course. But his aide, who reportedly brought the case to his attention, is gone.

And that, friends, is the American judicial system at work, as chaired by F. Jim Sensenbrenner.

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UPDATE: Sensenbrenner's challenger, Bryan Kennedy, has asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate. Kennedy's letter.