Muckraker Cummins Describes Conversation with DoJ Official by Paul Kiel 03.06.07 | 10:54 am 1 Here’s testimony from U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins about his conversation with Michael Elston, the chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty: And here’s the email Bud Cummins sent to the other USAs outlining the conversation. Send Tips Paul Kiel is a former TPM reporter who covers covers business and consumer finance for ProPublica.