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MSNBC reports that four Senate Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent a letter [pdf] requesting that a special counsel be appointed to investigate possible perjury by the Attorney General of the United States, Alberto Gonzales.
At a news conference this afternoon, four members of the Senate Judiciary Committee called for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Alberto Gonzales on perjury charges.
Sens. Charles Schumer, Dianne Feinstein, Russ Feingold, and Sheldon Whitehouse explained in a letter to Solicitor General Paul Clement that “it has become apparent that the Attorney General has provided at a minimum half-truths and misleading statements” to the Judiciary Committee. They wrote:
- We ask that you immediately appoint an independent special counsel from outside the Department of Justice to determine whether Attorney General Gonzales may have misled Congress or perjured himself in testimony before Congress.
The subpoenas today for Rove and J. Scott Jennings, the deputy White House political director, are part of the congressional investigation into whether the White House orchestrated the dismissals for improper political purposes such as to spur investigations of Democrats.
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Patrick Leahy has issued subpoenas for Karl Rove and his sidekick, J. Scott Jennings. He also say some choice words for this administration.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."things are getting interesting.
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WASHINGTON (USA Today) — Congressional Democrats are taking direct aim at two of President Bush’s closest aides, raising the stakes in a political showdown that threatens to swamp both parties’ political agendas.
At issue is Congress’ ability to obtain documents and testimony relating to the firings of nine federal prosecutors and a terrorist surveillance program that involved wiretapping without court warrants. The White House says it has cooperated but executive privilege and national security prohibits disclosure of some material.
VIDEO: Mueller contradicts Gonzales
AUDIO: Sen. Chuck Schumer on the request
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Senate Dems seek independent probe
Both sides accused the other of ignoring their constitutional obligations in favor of scoring political points. “Every day this Congress gets a little more out of control,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said. Leahy said the White House’s refusal to comply with congressional inquires is “an insult to the rule of law.”
In a letter to Gonzales, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy sent a copy of the transcript of the attorney general’s most recent testimony, along with the admonition: ““Please mark any changes you wish to make to correct, clarify or supplement your answers so that, consistent with your oath, they are the whole truth.” (emphasis mine)
The Secrecy Excuse
Washington Post by Dan Froomkin
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
Washinton Post – Capitol Briefing by Paul Kane
“Every day, I am pained that I didn’t do more to try to block Justice Alito. Every two years, I look back and take stock of my greatest failings and regrets in the past Congress. Without question, my greatest regret in the 109th Congress was not doing more to block Alito. Alito shouldn’t have been confirmed. I should have done a better job; my colleagues said we didn’t have the votes, but I think we should have twisted more arms and done more.”
American Constitution Society, Speech by Schumer
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
All policies of the Cheney-Bush administration has the hallmark of an Orwellian Power grab.
The new Isikoff-Evans account makes clear how this developed – namely Yoo had made himself into a mole for the Vice President’s office, specifically David Addington, in the process. His agenda was clear: to establish the legal basis for a Presidential Dictatorship. He was using the powers of OLC to achieve that. Jack Goldsmith uncovered his handiwork, notified Ashcroft of it (through Comey and Philbin) and set about rectifying the situation.
These are extraordinary, powerful and important developments in America’s legal history. As Marty Lederman asks: “Is there anything remotely like it in U.S. history?” The answer is no.
The essence of the Addington-Gonzales-Yoo interaction was a plot against the Constitution – a Schmittian design under which the war powers were being used as a state of exception to overturn the Constitutional order of government and install something new and previously unseen.
All this in light of a recent Executive Order: Revoking the Right to Dissent? !
≈ Previous post — Addington-Gonzales-Yoo plot against the Constitution ≈
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.".
Bradley Schlozman has been criticized for bringing voter fraud charges against several ACORN registration organizers just days before a close election in 2006. The decision appears to be in conflict with Department of Justice policy. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) pointed out the apparent conflict to Schlozman today during his testimony at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the politicization of the agency. Leahy became openly angered …
A bit of a surprise to find my diary referenced and linked from memory –
On June 18, 2007 – 12:29pm mac2151 said:
Believe you might want to search DailyKos concerning the names you are mentioning. Believe there was a somewhat similar post trying to link some of similar names to GOPUSA in Texas, JFK assassination, Bay of Pigs, etc.
Spelling on this last name throwing me a bit – Frakne or Franke? [Franke – Oui]
Anyhow, post had to do with John C Gannon, Ex-CIA Deputy Director; William H Frakne, Ex-Sec of Navy; John Danforth, Special Counsel for Branch Davidian Investigation, Ex-Sen from Mo, married Sally Dobson.
Also, Franke, Doug Parker & Ed Shapiro of PAR Capital made a ton of money on American West Airlines after some government help. [Comment by Oui: my reference was Swift Boat Veteran Willam H. Franke, Par Capital involved William A. Franke from Arizona]
If Rubick was at BGSU in Ohio, he was probably connected to Bernedette/Tom Noe. The RICO suit was one month before the Toledo Blade broke the Tom Noe story. Other Ohio politicos had similar housing deals. And, Timms had Todd for a lawyer, a Todd handled Cunningham’s house, and a Todd handled Rick Santorum’s house. Housing must be a perk of the job.
GHW Bush – Gannon & JFK Bay of Pigs 1962 vs. GW Bush – Gannon & JFK SBVT 2004 ◊ by Creve Coeur
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."josh marshall at tpm had an interesting comment…
nearly everyone here, has already come to the conclusion that Abu’s going nowhere without a struggle, and seeing that there are still 18 months of serious jeopardy left for BushCo™, l expect they will fight this tooth and nail.
buckle up.
lTMF’sA