The office of inspector general of the Department of Justice in a 358-page report released today said that the Bush administration used a “fundamentally flawed” process for firing nine U.S. attorneys in 2006.

The firings drew a storm of criticism and a series of congressional hearings about whether the removals were politically motivated. In Arkansas, U.S. Attorney H.E. “Bud” Cummins III was replaced by former White House political aide Tim Griffin.

The controversy prompted Griffin to resign a few months later.

The inspector general said the Department of Justice’s handling of the firings — former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claimed the prosecutors were terminated for poor performance — “severely damaged” the department’s credibility.

The inspector general recommended an attorney be appointed to further investigate the firings. Attorney General Michael Mukasey made that appointment Monday.