TPM Muckraker

« previous | MUCK HOME | next »

Leahy: Schloz Committed "Heinous Crime"

It sounds like Sen. Pat Leahy isn't too happy about the US Attorney's office's decision not to prosecute Bradley Schlozman for making false statements to Leahy's Judiciary committee.

In a speech on the Senate floor this morning, Leahy left no doubt that he disagrees with the US Attorney's office's decision, and declared: "When somebody deliberately, purposely sets out to subvert the constitution of the United States, and then lies about it, lies about it, Mr. President, I find that a heinous crime."

You can watch the speech here, but here's the entire relevant excerpt:

I really wish that the current U.S. attorney's office appointed by this administration had prosecuted. I think that the only way you stop such blatant criminal violations by people who know better, people who are sworn to uphold the law, (unint.) that they know they'll go to jail for breaking the law. That's what should have been done. And just because they broke the law in the Bush administration and the Bush administration did not, or deemed not to prosecute, I think that raises real questions. Prosecution should be done no matter who breaks the law. I think about one of the people who testified that same investigation and said that, uh, "we swear an oath to President George Bush." I said, "no, you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. That constitution is the constitution you're sworn to uphold and I'm sworn to uphold and it's the constitution that reflects all Americans."

...

And when somebody deliberately, purposely sets out to subvert the constitution of the United States, and then lies about it, lies about it, Mr. President, I find that a heinous crime. We will see some kid who steals a car, they'll be prosecuted as they probably should. But when you have a key member of the DoJ lie about it under oath, who subverts the consitution of the United States, all the more reason to prosecute that person. Mr. President what Mr. Schlozman did was reprehensible, it was disgusting, it was wrong, goes at the very core of America's principles. The distinguished presiding officer, like me, had the great opportunity to serve as a prosecutor, and I have every reason to believe that he did not show fear of favor when he brought prosecution, as I did, as I did not, I did not show fear of favor, most prosecutors do not. And when you have somebody who is part of the Justice Department lie under oath, and do it in a way to cover up subverting the laws that protect all of us, the civil rights laws protect all of us, white, black, brown, no matter what our race, our creed, it protects all of us. And what has marked this country since the time I was a young lawyer in the sixties, is our adherence to the civil rights laws. You can't go back to a time where they're enforced for some but not for others.


7 Comments

| Leave a comment
user-pic

"You can't go back to a time where they're enforced for some but not for others."

It seems we are just at the end of that time, but we do need to go back and clean up the mess or we cannot go forward.

user-pic

Even worse : The Schloz will be toasted and promoted by the bastards who like what he did. There is unlimited money supporting him and his ilk.

He can head to a 'think tank' while he waits for the Republicans to get back in power. The he will be appointed to some government position as a reward for his loyalty to the right wing.

Bust The Schloz, I say : a conviction will make it harder for him to reappear in government. Harder, not impossible.


user-pic

Mssrs. Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, et al. to Hon. Senator Leahy: "So?"

Middle digit extended....

user-pic

Humm..could this be why Arlen Specter (via the master worms, Cheney and Rove) has such a problem with the nomination of Eric Holder for Attorney General....? This whole obstrution, refusal to prosecute, refusal to investigate..smells of a cover-up...who knew and when did they know...? Could A.G. Holder still go after Schlozman (and the others...?)

user-pic

I think the only restriction Holder faces is the statute of limitations.

user-pic

Is there any recourse for Leahy and the Senate if the Obama Justice Department also chooses not to prosecute?

user-pic

I don't think you understand. This story LITERALLY gets me so mad steam could be seen from my ears. Absolutely deplorably that this guy was put in a position of power. HOW CAN A RACIST HEAD THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION!?

Leave a comment

Advertisement
Please disable your adblocker!
Ads are how we pay the bills!

Subscribe
Tip Line

Josh
Marshall

Bio

Zachary
Roth

Bio

Advertise Liberally
Share
Close Social Web Email

"To" Email Address

Your Name

Your Email Address