First Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Alcantara now supervises the Saipan branch during this transition period, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. O’Malley is going to Iraq; James J. Benedetto to East Timor; and Kirk W. Schuler to Illinois by the end of this month, Variety was told.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly R. McCallum will be the remaining prosecutor during the transition period.
O’Malley could not be reached for comment. He is prosecuting the bribery case of special assistant to the Department of Public Lands secretary Franz B. Reksid starting today.
Benedetto and Schuler had yet to respond to inquiries of this reporter.
“Please note that these are not attorney resignations. Also, we are unable to comment on any questions that may relate to personnel matters,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office told the Variety.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Saipan Branch, is in transition with an attorney relocating closer to home upon contract expiration, and attorneys fulfilling overseas prosecution assignments with the U.S. Department of Justice. The Saipan branch will be welcoming new attorneys who will be joining the branch office,” the statement added.
Staffers were tightlipped about the “relocations,” but Variety learned that the public filing and discovery phases of a complaint filed by McCallum with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may be a factor.
When asked about the EEOC complaint, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said it is unable to comment on any questions that may relate to personnel matters.
