Thursday morning, I reported that U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., planned to ask Attorney General Michael Mukasey about Rachel Paulose's tenure as U.S. attorney for Minnesota, how it ended, Paulose's new job with the Justice Department and the status of ongoing investigations into Paulose's conduct in Minnesota.

The Judiciary oversight hearing at which Ellison planned to raise these questions is over and Ellison wasn't available when his turn came. Ellison will submit his questions in writing, but it's less likely now that he will get a response.

Last week, MinnPost revealed that the federal Office of Special Counsel had complained to Mukasey that the Justice Department had stonewalled an investigation into Paulose's alleged mismanagement of the Minnesota office.

Ellison had planned to ask Mukasey for his response to the letter from the special counsel, and about the nature of Paulose's new job as counselor to the assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy, and how she came to get that job.

The Office of Special Counsel, which investigates improper personnel practices and whistleblower issues, has an ongoing investigation into the allegations.

If you're a newcomer to the Paulose saga, this link will catch you up.