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Lying To Congress: OK For DOJ Officials, Not So Much For Ballplayers
So Miguel Tejada, the shortstop for the Houston Astros, has been charged with lying to Congressional investigators about the use of steroids in baseball.
That news put us in mind of someone two other people who are suspected of lying to Congress, but so far, unlike Tejada, have escaped legal jeopardy. We refer, of course, to Alberto Gonzales and Bradley Schlozman.
A report released last July by the Justice Department's inspector general indicated that Gonzales may have lied to Congress about politicization at the department. And there have also been credible suggestions, including from Senate Judiciary chair Pat Leahy, that Gonzales perjured himself during his testimony on the US Attorneys firings scandal. A special prosecutor, Nora Dannehy, has been appointed to look into whether crimes were committed in connection with the firings, and the issue of Gonzales' possible perjury appears to be at the center of her probe. But as yet, Gonzales hasn't been charged (though he's certainly not in the clear).
As for Schlozman, a former top DOJ voting-rights official, another report by the department's IG, this one released last month, found that Schlozman lied to a Senate committee about his own role in politicizing hiring at the department. But the US Attorney's office for the District of Columbia declined to bring charges against Schlozman (a decision that Attorney General Eric Holder has said he will review.)
Meanwhile, Tejada is set to go before a DC judge tomorrow. And Roger Clemens is also under investigation for lying to Congress about steroids.
And consider this: Tejada isn't accused of lying about this own possible steroid use. Rather, prosecutors say he lied when he told Congressional investigators, during an interview in a Baltimore hotel room, that he didn't know about any other players using steroids. Gonzales and Schlozman, by contrast, are suspected of lying to conceal their own involvement in politicizing DOJ.
It's hard not to conclude that if federal investigators went after former DOJ officials as hard as they went after ball players, the world would be a better place.













This is ridiculous..since when does a baseball player shape the laws or the policies of the country...? I am more than dissappointed in this act...what was it President Obama said..just last night.."no one is above the law"...? According to Congress thats not true...baseball players are held accountable..but not Rove, Gonzales, Bolton, Rice (who lied to Congress) Miers, Cheney, Bush, Addington, or that piece of s**t Ashcroft.."we the people" have got to get angry and "in the face" of this Congress and this Administration...or we will never see any real justice
February 10, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have hit a home run! (Since we are talking about baseball). It is up to us to hold Obama's administration accountable just as we want to hold Bush's administration accountable. It would be a travesty to give Obama a pass all the time when he makes very bad decisions, while insisting that Bush be accountable for doing the same.
That is my major disappointment with MoveOn. They are shifting to the role of cheerleaders for Obama, ignoring completely their role as a burr under his saddle, which is a far more important role. We need to pressure our progressive organizations, such as MoveOn to force them to be as resolute in pursuing progressive causes with Obama as president as they were with Bush as president.
February 10, 2009 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
hoppy,
the Obama who ran in the campaign doesn't seem to be the Obama who took office.
February 11, 2009 7:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
To: Mr. Chabuka
Sir . . . unfortunately I don't think any of us are going to see any justice.
February 10, 2009 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps if the Texas Rangers signed Gonzo to a 5 year $90 million contract to play "right" field, Congress would act.
As to the signing Gonzo can't hit, can't hit with power, can't field, can't run, can't throw.
He's a no tool prospect. Maybe he's just a "tool".
February 11, 2009 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know why Pat Leahy or John Conyers simply didn't send Miguel Tejada a strongly worded letter.
February 11, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a well-known fact that Congress hates the MLB on account of its anti-trust exemption. I'd say--sadly--that this is less about holding people to account, which Congress does with middling success, than about punishing that most loathsome of American pastimes.
February 11, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, the most loathsome of American pastimes is the NBA. That is where you find the bench warmers earning $20 million a year for having a really hot butt. I'm surprised this isn't called performance bonuses. Or retention awards.
February 11, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink