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SJC Subpoenas Mukasey for Testimony and OLC Docs
After the Washington Post beat the Senate Judiciary Committee to memos from the White House to the CIA endorsing interrogation practices, Chairman Patrick Leahy hasn't been pulling punches.
Today, Leahy issued a subpoena to Attorney Gen. Michael Mukasey demanding that he provide testimony and related documents to the committee about "legal analysis and advice from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) related to the Bush administration's terrorism policies, including detention and interrogation policies and practices." The deadline for the testimony and documents is November 18. The committee voted on issuing the subpoena in a September 25 business meeting.
"This administration's stonewalling leaves this Committee without basic facts that are essential to carrying out its oversight responsibilities," Leahy said in his letter to Mukasey.
"There is no legitimate argument for withholding the requested materials from this Committee. The Executive Branch should not obstruct Congress from conducting its constitutional oversight and lawmaking duties by making sweeping assertions of secrecy and privilege."
Leahy and the Bush administration have been embroiled in an ongoing tussle over access to administration documents. As Leahy explains in today's letter, in August he wrote to White House counsel Fred Fielding requesting the documents, and was rebuffed. Fielding referred Leahy to DOJ, which continued to stonewall. As a result, the committee voted to authorize the subpoena, which was issued to Mukasey today.
Josh
Zachary
Brought to you by courtesy of Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, in their eagerness to "restore" the public's confidence in the DOJ after Alberto Gonzales's disgraceful departure...(and apparently, to appoint yet another fellow Jew to a position of power!)
Mazel tov, Dianne and Chuck!
October 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anti-Semitism noted.
October 21, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really a disgusting post...shouldn't you be on a neocon site?
Do you really think your Race/religion prejudice contributes to the discussion?
October 21, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
FYI: I am NOT an antisemite and I reject all forms of intolerance.
But, unfortunately, that was the ONLY rationale I could find for Feinstein and Schumer's favorable vote for Mukasey after all the other members of the SJC voted against him.
Especially considering that, during the confirmation hearing, he refused to say whether waterboarding was torture and also appeared to favor expanding the powers of the Executive branch.
I am sorry if I have offended anybody but that's the only reason I have left to explain their vote in view of Mukasey's positions.
If someone can find any other cogent and logical reason to justify their vote, please share it. That's the only one I come up with.
October 21, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
A subpoena? From the Senate Judiciary Committee? Really? How quaint. I'm sure Mukasey and crew will be rushing to comply with that one -- just as soon as he's finished doing his nails.
October 21, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that Leahy has good intentions; what I wonder about is his spine. Kind of like Spector, talks a good game, but rarely delivers.
October 21, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have to cut Leahy some slack.
He is the only Senator within recent memory to have received a care package from the Department of Defense.
Other than Tom Daschle, of course.
October 21, 2008 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing that will get Mukasey in front of the Senate is his impeachment hearings, and he will probably stonewall those.
One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. These Senate subpoenas have become like beating your head against a wall to get rid of a headache. I groan every time I hear that another subpoena has been issued to anyone in the Bush Administration.
The Senate (Leahy) has the power (inherent contempt) to issue a warrant for Mukasey's arrest and force him to appear.
It would really be interesting to see Mukasey held in the Congressional prison as a flight risk until it pleases Leahy to hear his testimony - sometime after January 20th and after the application of those famous non-torture harsh interrogation methods are applied.
October 21, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
"ROTFLMAO"
October 21, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
You knew that the democrats were being bamboozled again when they voted this guy in. His entire testimony before the judicial committee was based on lies. We need to get rid of all these people. The crooked Republicans as well as the incompetent Democrats and elect new blood all around.
http://www.fedup.com
October 21, 2008 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
"This administration's stonewalling leaves this Committee without basic facts that are essential to carrying out its oversight responsibilities"
By oversight... the new regime just means curiosity. Remember folks, those clowns we elected to stop the war and to get retribution for the American public for crimes against the constitution, the country, and humanity were taken off the table the minute they gained power. NONE of these mobsters care one bit about the constitution or this country of ours. Their only purpose for living is to get more prestige, power, and money... as we continue our slide down the drain.
Too bad the presidency ISN'T all powerful, since Obama seems like a true patriotic fellow. He will, out of necessity, have to follow right in step with the other mob members if he wants to get anything done during his tenure...
Sad, that "We the Voters" continue to believe our mobsters are better than their mobsters...
October 21, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an absolutely dispiriting situation.
Grant's AG was impeached, for offenses that have been long forgotten- the infamy of this AG, who has said that 'not all violations of the law are crimes,' will never be forgotten.
October 21, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not quite convinced, essentially, that our bad guys are as bad as their bad guys. If the Dems get a veto proof majority, or a big enough majority to pressure a few repugs into voting with them occasionally, I think (hope) things might be different in the next congress. Guess we'll find out soon enough!
October 21, 2008 8:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. Just wait til them Democrats get subpoena power. Then some things are really gonna be chagin'. Yes sir.
October 21, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow! A real subpoena?
Those are fightin' words! That'll show him to mess with the Democrats. Bet he's done stonewalling now!
Yaaaawn . . . . ..
October 21, 2008 11:31 PM | Reply | Permalink