Purdon, whose legal experience is primarily as a defense attorney, is perhaps better known for his political activities. According to the Los Angeles Times blog:
Purdon is a prominent Democratic donor and fundraiser, a national committeeman and was state chairman for the aborted presidential campaign of John Edwards, another trial lawyer.
Burton ran the Edwards campaign in North Dakota since 2004. He has reportedly donated $12,400 to North Dakota Democrats, national politicians, and PACs since 2000. In 2008, he donated $2,300 to then-candidate Obama. He has also held several positions within the Democratic Party infrastructure over the years, including Committeeman in the Democratic National Committee from 2008 up through his nomination, and Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2000.Bill Brudvik, whose name was also submitted to the President for consideration, commented, "When President Obama said he wanted to restore the independence and dignity of the U.S. Attorney's office, in light of the Alberto Gonzales fiasco, and then appoints a political activist and party fundraiser, it seems a little to me like 'politics as usual' than 'change we can believe in.'"
So, North Dakota may soon have a political operative with little to no experience as a prosecutor for its U.S. attorney. I wonder how they feel about that?