Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
U.S. Attorney Perez resigns for new job
He will step down March 30 to take a higher-paying post with a financial firm.
By JUSTIN GEORGE AND COLLEEN JENKINS
Published March 14, 2007
TAMPA - Paul Perez, the top law enforcement officer in this part of Florida appointed by President Bush, announced Tuesday that he will resign as U.S. Attorney. With Bush's term nearing an end, Perez, 52, knew his job security was, too. So the head prosecutor whose office investigated terrorism and drug smuggling decided a lucrative offer from a Fortune 500 company near his Jacksonville-area home was too good to pass up. Perez's resignation effective March 30 comes at the same time lawmakers are investigating the firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year to see if their terminations were politically motivated. He said the fallout from that probe has nothing to do with his decision, and called his decision to accept the job of chief compliance officer for Fidelity National Financial Inc. "terrible timing." "The position was open now," he said, "and it was either take it or risk not having it be around." Times staff writers Bill Adair, Jennifer Liberto and researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Justin George can be reached at 813 226-3368 or jgeorge@sptimes.com.
[Last modified March 14, 2007, 00:43:10]
Share your thoughts on this story
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
