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Fine Says IG's Office Only Talked To One White House Official In DOJ Probe
Throughout the investigation of improper political influence on the Department of Justice's hiring process, the DOJ's inspector general interviewed 85 people -- but only one from the White House.
The IG, Glenn Fine, testifying this morning before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that Karl Rove aide Scott Jennings was the only White House official he sought to interview for his report released Monday.
"Why were no others at the White House questioned?" Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) asked Fine.
"From the evidence that we had, both emails and discussions, we did not see that others were involved in this process, and we questioned the person who was involved," Fine said, referring to Jennings.
The process Fine was referring to was the partisan screening of prospective prosecutors and judges.
Yet Fine did note at least one exception, an example his report cited of a prospective immigration judge who was appointed after Rove expressed support for the candidate.
Fine was said he did not believe any of the misconduct described in his 140-page report called for criminal prosecution for false statements.
"We looked at that and clearly in our judgment and in the judgement of prosecutors who have been working on this case, we do not think there was a sufficient basis for a criminal prosecution for false statements."
Late Update:
Here's the exchange between Specter and Fine.
Josh
Zachary
"Fine was said he did not believe any of the misconduct described in his 140-page report called for criminal prosecution for false statements."
Really? And the esteemed Mr. Fine didn't think it was necessary to question anyone save Mr. Jennings --- OMG I hate these fucking pigs.
July 30, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why should he bother questioning anybody else? To Glenn Fine, everything looked "JUST FINE"!!!!!
July 30, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
can we all say at once..."a FINE job of white wash here FINE!
Fuckin joke of an investigation if you ask me!
July 30, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
... probably took twice as long to write the report than to actually do the investigation...
beauracracy at its best... thugs running the government.... and absolutely no way to fire them...
Next four years the other thugs will be in charge... and NO accountability will be tolerated while they are in power either...
Pigs rule in Animal Farm!
July 30, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I suppose he wouldn't see any evidence in the emails--because the freakin' WH was using RNC email for this correspondence, and then destroyed the freakin' evidence.
In defense of Fine and his fellow conspirators, I suppose it is hard to see any evidence with your head up your ass. Nothing to see here!
July 30, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fine's obviously covering for someone. What kind of investigation overlooks the fact that the Deputy AG's screening committee was composed of individuals who bounced back and forth between positions at both the Justice Department and the White House? Curiouser and curiouser...
July 30, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Glenn Fine is an apolitical professional who has done some great work on this and other cases. He was appointed by President Clinton, by the way, not Bush. It is extremely difficult to sustain a charge of perjury beyond a reasonable doubt, which is one reason why such prosecutions are rare. It's a shame that the widespread duplicity and corruption of the current Adminstration sweeps in even those who are acting in good faith to fulfill their duty to the public.
July 30, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
ed man,
Mr. Fine may be an honorable man. However, my fellow Republican Senator Spector found Fine's investigation strangely cursory, as do I. Fine opted not to interview several individuals whose names frequently appear in the related document dumps who served as official and unofficial liasons between the White House and the DOJ. Why did he not interview David Higbee? He's only one of the individuals that were deeply involved in the vetting process not implicated by the OIG report. Why such glaring ommissions?
July 30, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, let me get this straight. An "investigation" of this type consisted of asking former AG Gonzalez the following (in essence):
Q. So, the whole process of picking immigration judges and other DOJ personnel was corrupted by political ideology by people in YOUR OFFICE and you had no idea it was going on?
A. Correct.
Q. So, you're saying that you had no idea how the agency you were head of was, in fact, operating.
A. Correct.
Q. And there's no reason we shouldn't just take your word for all this?
A. Correct.
Q. No reason to look at your emails of phone calls with people in the Whitehouse?
A. Correct.
Q. So, Mr. Attorney General, your defense to any possible allegations about your involvement in the politicization of the DOJ is that you were simply oblivious to what was going on?
A. Correct.
OK, it sounds like you're innocent to me. Nice work.
July 30, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
An aid to Karl Rove was the only Black House official interviewed?
http://www.light-to-dark.com/but_whats_a_hard_drive.html
July 30, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Notice how Fine mostly avoided eye contact with Specter while he was lying, er, testifying? Very telling.
July 30, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
drv,
Hey, I noticed that too!
July 31, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
It could be that whatever evidence is being accrued on Pinky has overlap on multiple, separate investigations. Since Fine's research gathering/testimony ended abruptly with Pinky's aid I've a hunch the DOJ is actually doing it's job and knows exactly where the scent leads.
Just a thought.
July 31, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink