Rather than risk more serious charges or a jury trial in western Virginia, where the drug’s problems were by now legend, the company accepted the plea agreement later that night. But Purdue wasn’t quite finished negotiating. Eight days after it accepted the deal, Brownlee was stunned to see his name on a firing list, along with four other U.S. attorneys. Though he wasn’t ultimately fired, the incident provided fresh criticism of then–attorney general Alberto Gonzales, accused of trying to sway the work of U.S. attorneys’ offices.
