Michael Elston is the former chief of staff to former Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty. On Friday, June 15, 2007, Elston announced that he would be leaving the Justice Department at the end of the next week to "join an unidentified law firm."[1]. Both Elston and officials at the Justice Department assured the press that the senior official's rapid departure had nothing whatsoever to do with any potential involvement in the U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal. No, Elston simply wants to spend more time with his family.