Andre Birotte likely U.S. Attorney

The L.A. Times' Scott Glover says it appears the FBI is doing the final vetting of LAPD Inspector General Andre Birotte Jr. for likely appointment by President Obama as U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles.

According to sources familiar with the process, Birotte was one of three candidates interviewed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein in August. The other two were Brian J. Hennigan, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Irell and Manella, and Michael J. Raphael, chief of the criminal appeals section in the U.S. attorney’s office.

Both Hennigan and Raphael have been notified that they are not the nominee, the sources said.

Former police commissioner Rick Caruso told the Times that he lobbied Feinstein on Birotte's behalf. Birotte, the son of Haitian immigrants, would be the first black man to head the L.A. office, the Times says.

Daily Journal's take: Tomorrow's L.A. Daily Journal also reports that Birotte is likely, has some praise from legal experts, but calls him "African American," per an email from the newsroom.