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I find it interesting that he felt the need to testify on his own initiative, using private counsel.
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Melson is a non-career Senior Executive Service employee currently, which means he can be terminated at any time with a 1-day notice and he has no right to appeal. He had previously been a career SES employee with 21 years in; but got talked into taking the non-career track in 2007 in order to receive a Presidential appointment at the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and then Acting Director ATF. Presidential appointees who leave Presidential appointment are entitled to reinstatement of career SES status if the reason for leaving isn't misconduct, neglect of duty or malfeasance. So he has some personal investment in not being the designated fall guy for Fast and Furious.
Smart move on his part not to rely on DOJ counsel and get his own lawyer.