Dennis Burke, one of Arizona?s most prominent and well-connected Democratic political figures, abruptly resigned as the state?s top federal prosecutor Tuesday, stirring doubts about earlier expectations that he might mount a bid for governor, attorney general or U.S. senator.
Burke served in Washington as a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and in Arizona as her chief of staff when she was governor. His departure as U.S. Attorney comes as congressional investigators and an internal Justice Department inquiry are examining how an Arizona-based federal gun-trafficking investigation may have allowed as many as 2,000 guns to flow to criminals.
Continue ReadingMany Arizona politicos assumed that Burke was trying to walk in Napolitano?s footsteps by seeking a federal prosecutor?s job, then perhaps the Arizona attorney general?s post and the governor?s office. However, Arizona analysts said those possibilities now seem more remote in the wake of Burke?s sudden resignation and as questions swirl about his office?s handling of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives probe known as ?Operation Fast and Furious.?
?Dennis?s name would come up in any major political race as a potential Democratic candidate. ? Obviously, today?s news is going to have an impact on that,? said Cary Pfeffer, a former political reporter who now is a public relations consultant in Phoenix. ?It doesn?t mean it?s the end of his career certainly, but it?s difficult for one of the highest-profile, rising-star Democrats in Arizona. ? It?s going to give pause to some Democrats who have always thought his name would be a logical one to throw into the mix.?
One local Democrat who is close to Burke said, ?This is a severe political problem for Dennis, no doubt about it ? especially given that he was the No. 1 player on the Democratic Party bench in Arizona.? The Democrat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: ?This comes as a surprise, a complete surprise.?
Burke had been mentioned as a possible candidate next year for the seat being given up by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) or as a candidate for governor in 2014, political operatives said. They said Burke?s strategy appeared to mirror Napolitano?s approach of using law enforcement credentials to help inoculate a Democratic politician against charges that he or she might be soft on crime.
?That path he was following is basically Janet?s path,? Pfeffer said, adding that Burke?s resignation ?is going to have some impact on that storyline.?
Napolitano had kind words Tuesday for her former aide but said nothing about the Fast and Furious controversy. In December, two of the guns involved in the operation were found at the scene of the killing of a Border Patrol agent. The Border Patrol is part of Napolitano?s department.
?Dennis is an outstanding public servant and was an important law enforcement partner to DHS as U.S. Attorney for Arizona. He is also a longtime friend and I thank him for his years of service to Arizona and the country,? she said in a written statement to POLITICO.
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