Another prosecutor, Mike Evangelista, is also reportedly resigning this week.
“The climate of fear started after Ed ordered to change the two locks of [former chief prosecutor] Kevin [Lynch’s] office,” the source said.
Buckingham and Chief Prosecutor Rosemond B. Santos have yet to respond to this reporter’s requests for comments.
They also referred this reporter to the governor’s office which has also yet to respond.
The source said they were told by Buckingham “to do the right thing” when prosecuting cases.
Months later, the source said they were all surprised to see that the door locks of Lynch’s office were being changed, and to learn that the chief prosecutor was resigning.
At the AGO, nobody wants to talk on matters that are contrary to what Buckingham wants, the source said.
“People are just afraid to talk,” the source added.
Other sources said the morale at the AGO is “low,” and the remaining prosecutors feel “weary” with their situation.
But they continue to focus on their jobs, sources said.
Last week, a small victory party was held by the AGO’s criminal division after Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Dockter secured a conviction in a traffic case.
Assistant Attorneys General Brian Gallagher and William “Sonny” Downer also won their cases.
Vacancies
Two of the seven vacancies at the AGO will be filled, based on documents submitted to the Legislature.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial certified two positions for assistant attorney general for fiscal year 2010.
Five other positions were also certified — one attorney general investigator, one chief investigator, one clerk III, one paralegal, and one legal secretary.
“The filling of these vacant positions are of vital importance for the efficient delivery of essential public services.
Continuing appropriations are available for the full personnel cost associated with these,” the governor wrote to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, and Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan.
Over the past six months, seven attorneys have left the AGO.
They are: former Deputy Attorney General Gregory Baka who is believed to have relocated to the U.S. mainland; former Deputy Attorney General Joseph Taijeron who is currently a legal counsel of the House of Representatives; former prosecutor Matthew Meyer, now Senate legal counsel; former Chief Prosecutor Kevin Lynch who has retired; former prosecutor George Hasselback, who will now work for the Public School System; former immigration prosecutor Kathleen Busenkell; and Joseph Przyuski, former special prosecutor for the white collar crime task force who has moved to the Office of the Public Auditor.
