Justice Department Rehires Lawyer Ousted Over Lesbian Rumor

A Justice Department lawyer who reportedly lost her job because of rumors that she was a lesbian got her job back on Monday.

The lawyer, Leslie Hagen, was hired after a nationwide search for candidates, National Public Radio reports. At one time the job was a contract position, but now the job is permanent.

Hagen was a liaison between DOJ and the U.S. attorneys' committee on Native American issues when her contract was not renewed in 2006. Reports at the time suggested top aide Monica Goodling ousted Hagen after hearing false rumors that she was having an affair with another female prosecutor.

The inspector general later confirmed the reports and said Goodling also blocked Hagen from other Justice Department jobs, the NPR story says.

“It is not a perfectly happy ending for Hagen,” NPR says. “Nobody official from the department ever apologized to her for what happened. She still owes thousands of dollars in attorney fees, and the Justice Department has refused to pay those bills.”

Hat tip to wowOwow.