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Conyers Criticizes Attorney General For Ruling Out Charges in Hiring Scandal
Yesterday Attorney General Michael Mukasey made it clear he has no plans to prosecute any of the DOJ officials who clearly violated the law by using political criteria to select career judicial officials.
Apparently, that's not what Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) wanted to hear. The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said there's good reason to think somebody broke the law -- not just for screening out Democrats from key positions, but also failing to fully cooperate with the DOJ Inspector General's investigation.
In a statement today, Conyers said:
I am distressed that Attorney General Mukasey has been so quick to determine that no criminal offense has been committed in connection with the illegal hiring practices at the Department of Justice.
...
It is not enough for Mr. Mukasey to assert that things are different under his watch. The Department of Justice cannot reestablish its credibility so long as it persists in a strategy designed to avoid revealing all the facts that have so compromised the integrity of the Department of Justice and to prevent real accountability for misconduct by former DOJ officials.
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Josh
Zachary
If mukasey refuses to do the job he has been entrusted with the simple response is impeachment of mukasey.
August 13, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, when does the impeachment of Mukasey begin?
Use the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle - One count - that of failing to live up to his oath of office to uphold the laws of the United States of America.
August 13, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why should Rep.Conyers point out the AG's failures when he and the HJC has failed to enforce the law and uphold the constituition? How about Rep. Conyers put his principals at work and doing someting about the people who ignore the contempt charges and do not testify before Congress. We have the AG and White House as well as Congress failing to uphold the law!! This country has gone to hell and Rep. Conyers has his share of the blame for it!
August 13, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Conyers is making this situation worse, by passing off all power to rectify this on the Executive Branch. But it was more than evident, if one looks at Mukasey's confirmation testimony, that he saw himself as Bush's personal attorney. Democrats Schumer and Feinstein approved him anyway.
Sadly, Conyers has become the problem. He will not exercise the power he has. This appears to be a Democratic party line. Consequently, I can no longer support the Democratic party in any way.
August 14, 2008 7:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation "
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee
DATE: September 17, 2008
TIME: 09:30 AM
ROOM: Hart-216
OFFICIAL HEARING NOTICE / WITNESS LIST:
August 13, 2008
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation” for Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 216 of the Senate Hart Office Building.
By order of the Chairman
Witness List
Hearing before the
Senate Judiciary Committee
on
“Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation”
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Hart Office Building Room 216
9:30 a.m.
The Honorable Robert S. Mueller, III
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Department of Justice
Washington, DC
August 13, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Referee at the Super Bowl:
Offsides - no penalty, I think outing the wrongdoing is penalty enough. Besides, why should the whole team have to be penalized when only one player did something wrong.
Prosecutor at Trial of John Gotti, to the jury:
I mean really, isn't it enough that we've exposed all this? Don't you think it would be a mistake to criminalize business behaviour, even if there is some lawbreaking that puts it's hand in the torture/kidnap/murder glove? Really, don't we just hurt ourselves if we penalize someone like Mr. Gotti?
Olympic Committee after Ben Johnson tests positive:
Why would you punish a whole country by stripping this man of his medals and world records? Isn't it punishment enough that, running his next race (with the knowledge that he won't be stripped of his medals if he tests positive) he'll know that we know that he knows that we know that he did something bad?
George Bush to Osama Bin Laden:
You've been punished enough - never mind the rest.
Jesuslordinheavendeliverus.
An ex-Judge and the current head of all of the federal justice department.
Maybe there should be an eye-exam required to be AG?
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/57525/
August 13, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Add 'conspiracy to cover-up' charge to Mukasey's failure to perform for his impeachment hearing. The conspiracy charge allows the Comittee to continously widen the scope and add names . . .
August 13, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if Mukasey ever had pride or integrity?
August 13, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Distressed"....oooooohhhh, that'll leave a real oweeee!
August 13, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't imagine that anyone who's been paying attention would be surprised by this.
I really want my country back.
August 13, 2008 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's an idea for mister Conyers. Put in an official request for say, the arrest of Harriet Miers for contempt of Congress. A judge has already ruled that Miers had no legal precedent for her refusal to appear.
The next day, if Miers hasn't been arrested, put in a formal request that the DoJ investigate Mukasey himself - for obstruction of justice. Repeat as necessary, with similar indictments against KKKarl Rove, Monica Goodling, Kyle Sampson and others. Make it clear that being part of the Bush D.O.J. does not come with a get out of jail free card.
Send a message that if you want to be part of a criminal conspiracy you should be ready to sit in the defendant's box. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
August 13, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
A charge of inherent contempt, now. It's a tool that's a little rusty, but it can work, some justice might be realized, and it would be so much fun to watch.
August 14, 2008 6:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Inherent Contempt would also show American voters that the Democrats actually have a spine and are willing to use their powers to enforce the laws of the land - something that is desperately needed in Washington today.
August 14, 2008 7:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pelosi won't allow impeachment hearings, because they won't succeed with the current number of Republicans in Congress. Mukasey certainly wasn't hired by Bush because of his willingness to prosecute corrupt people in the Bush Administration. Prosecutions will have to be handled by the next Attorney General. It will all hinge on whether Obama gets elected and who he appoints.
August 14, 2008 7:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
The problem is preemptive pardons/Libby-like commutations for all concerned.
Also, I question the rationale that Republicans in the Senate wouldn't convict.
Based on what I have seen, very few Democrats in the Senate would convict, themselves, REGARDLESS OF THE MERITS OF THE CASE.
The case would have to made, first, anyway. There is abundant (to understate) grounds for holding impeachment hearings. The appropriate venue for these issues is an impeachment hearing. No excuse the Democrats have given for not doing so is worth a rat's a**.
August 14, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
wow. distressed. new adjective. nothing to see here. lets move on to the new example of law breaking and pull out another new adjective representing the fact that your all talk and no action.
fuck this. I say impeach conyers.
August 14, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Impeachment is in order.
A sitting Attorney General dismisses illegal hiring practices in his own department because "things are different under his watch".
Everything's okay because I'm in charge now???
This is excusable how?
It's not. It is not excusable, dismissable, or otherwise able to legally be swept under the carpet. The chief law enforcement officer of our nation is publicly refusing to prosecute illegal actions carried out in his own department.
ITMFA!
August 14, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
As Obama 1st pointed out..
"Why should Rep.Conyers point out the AG's failures when he and the HJC has failed to enforce the law and uphold the constitution?"
If Obama becomes president, it is my belief that, although the democrats will continue this same shameful behavior (albeit in different ways), Conyers will no longer find reasons to investigate the acts.
when you have two mobs running the country, the mobsters will haller and scream and even do some harm to the other mobs. what they WON'T do is jeopardize the mob rule... that would harm their OWN position... IMHO
August 14, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink