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SJC Gives WH More Time on Wiretapping Subpoenas
Sometimes comity is possible, even when it comes to oversight on potentially illegal surveillance programs.
Today was the deadline set by the Senate Judiciary Committee for the White House to respond to a subpoena for documents establishing the origins and scope of the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program. But yesterday, White House counsel Fred Fielding -- who's locked in subpoena battles with the committee and its House counterpart over the U.S. attorney scandal -- wrote to chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) and asked for more time to dig through "a wide range of materials" possibly relevant to the subpoena. Leahy agreed, citing his willingness to "accommodate reasonable requests."
There's no new deadline for compliance attached to the subpoena extension. Leahy said that he hopes the White House "uses this additional time constructively to finish gathering the relevant information and then works with us in good faith on ways to provide it." That's the big question: whether Fielding and his counterparts on the National Security Council and vice president's office will pull a Harriet Miers and rebuff the congressional demand.
So far the White House isn't tipping its hand. The White House has regretted, in a spokesman's words last month, the committee's "route of confrontation," but it hasn't ruled out any course of action. Yet given how much value the White House has attached to the long-secret surveillance program -- and, of course, the lingering questions over its legality -- compliance with the subpoena would be a remarkable decision for the administration.
According to a committee staffer, negotiations between the White House and the committee for determining a reasonable time frame for the subpoena extension are set to begin in the coming days.
Update: Read the White House's letters to the committee here.
Josh
Zachary
We need extra time so we can first carpet bomb Iran and/or conduct a false-flag op here in The Homeland.
July 18, 2007 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why would the SJC give the WH more time to just have the WH come back to the SJC with a not only no, but hell no, we will give you any relevant documents that may shed some light onto the WH's illegal enterprises?
I don't understand, what the hell the Senate and or the HJC is doing, can't these people see the handwriting on the wall. Stall, Stall, Stall until all of this won't matter anymore.
Come on ladies and gentleman show some backbone to these thugs and start impeachment, the American people need to feel like there is a possibility of getting our country and it's ideals back from the edge of the abyss otherwise known as the Bush Administration.
July 18, 2007 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick.....
14 months and counting... At this rate, they'll have successfully run out the clock, considering these requests' origins can be found back in APRIL!
Abyss? More like trying to climb out of the abyss!
And holy crap, the security code word here is PROFIT... As in who profits from stonewalling Congress?
July 18, 2007 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why not just tell the White House to bring a note from mommy and all will be forgiven... if this ball gets any softer it's going to become a puddle.
July 18, 2007 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the important thing to look at in all this illegal activity is the way the democrats are solving the problems over the long term differently. Whereas the republicans are content to just make sure the OTHER mobsters cannot continue doing their evil deeds, but do not have any desire to actually stop the behavior for ALL mobsters, the democrats actually have the publics (that's us, folks) best interest at heart.
This is pretty much evident in the numerous new bills going through Congress which will stop future abuses of power by the various branches and corruption through payoffs by lobbyists, hidden legislation, disclosure laws, etc.
Since the elections, I believe I've counted..... well, I'm sure they'll get started on them eventually...
July 18, 2007 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give the GOP some wiggle room, they'll destroy America and the Rule of Law. Mistake to give them an extension without some consequences.
July 18, 2007 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dumb.
How can they keep making the same mistakes?
The White House just doesn't want another headline that they're resisting yet MORE subpoenas on something else.
So, they will waste the Senate's time and then simply say: We will give you nothing.
July 18, 2007 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I appreciate the fact the Leahy and the SJC want to accommodate reasonable requests by the WH but at this point to what end. I get it, the SJC wants to show that they are reasonable but at this point the shredder could be working overtime. Many emails have already claimed to be missing or destroyed. The SJC needs to stay on the offense and not go for the there’s nothing up my sleeve stunt. Time is urgent and must be used wisely.
July 19, 2007 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink