Article: Brownlee retells events that led to Purdue plea.

Byline: Laurence Hammack

Aug. 1--A high-ranking Justice Department official who suggested that U.S. Attorney John Brownlee be fired had earlier tangled with the prosecutor over his sweeping investigation of a drug company, Brownlee said Tuesday.

In testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Brownlee described receiving a call at home the night of Oct. 24 from Michael Elston, then chief of staff for the deputy attorney general.

At the time, Brownlee's Roanoke-based office was on the verge of completing a plea agreement in which Purdue Pharma would pay $634.5 million in fines for overpromoting its top-selling product, the prescription ...

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