Grand Old Police Blotter: Criminal-In-Justice Edition

No one is above the law, except Republicans:

WASHINGTON - Janet Rehnquist, the inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services, received a government handgun and law enforcement credentials even though she was not legally entitled to them, an internal investigation concluded.

The daughter of Chief Justice William Rehnquist was guilty of "administrative failures," the investigation found. The Justice Department reviewed the findings and said it would not prosecute.

...

Rehnquist told investigators she had the unloaded gun in her office less than a day. It was taken away from her by officials responsible for HHS firearms and replaced by a laser gun, which required no permit, the report said.

She also wrongly obtained the law enforcement credential that allowed her to enter her government building without going through security, according to the report.

The report found as well that Vicki Shepard, deputy inspector general for investigations who obtained the gun and credentials for Rehnquist, also had an unauthorized weapon. Everson, the White House official, suggested that HHS officials consider whether action should be taken against Shepard.

....

Shepard told investigators the IG was not authorized to carry a firearm but said she defined "carrying" as physically carrying a loaded gun. Since Rehnquist's gun was never loaded, the IG never "carried" the weapon from her office, Shepard said.

Rehnquist told the investigators she thought she could use the firearm to practice discharging the clip and for sight alignment. She did not recall requesting the firearm and believed she had it less than 24 hours.

The report added that Shepard insisted that credentials be given to Rehnquist even after being told she was not entitled to them. Shepard said her boss needed them to access special areas "in the event of a terrorist incident," the investigation said.

Rehnquist's arrogance and disregard for the law are breathtaking. And so is his daughter's.