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Justice Department To Probe Tiller Killing
The Justice Department has announced an investigation into whether federal crimes were committed in connection with the murder of Dr. George Tiller.
In a press release, DOJ writes that it will probe whether there were violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act or other federal statutes in the case.
The release explains:
The FACE Act was enacted by Congress in 1994 to establish federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for violent, obstructionist or damaging conduct affecting reproductive health care providers and recipients.
A witness has said publicly that Scott Roeder, who has been charged with Tiller's murder, was twice seen trying to glue the locks of a Kansas City abortion clinic in the week before the shooting. As has been reported, the FACE Act explicitly declares that it's a federal crime to vandalize an abortion clinic.
Questions have been raised -- including by us -- about whether the FBI responded aggressively enough to tips about those incidents. And it looks like DOJ is concerned to push back against that criticism. The release continues:
"The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to determine the full involvement of any and all actors in this horrible crime, and to ensure that anyone who played a role in the offense is prosecuted to the full extent of federal law," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "We will conduct a thorough investigation that will complement and build upon the fine work of the Sedgwick County District Attorney and other state and local law enforcement agencies."
The prosecution of Roeder is being primarily handled by the Wichita-based District Attorney's office. We had known that a federal probe into the circumstances around the killing had also been opened. But DOJ's announcement suggests that this is being prioritized as a national matter.
Josh
Zachary
It's nice to know the grownups are back in charge at our government.
June 5, 2009 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nonsense...they're just making sure their asses were covered just in case they stumblle upon a domestic terrorist conspiracy.
It's still the Bush DoJ...Obama and his 'Gonzales' are just picking up and learning the ropes Bush left them.
Example: A guilty Stevens is walking around free while a not guilty Siegleman is poised to do 20yrs. Glad we got the change we could believe in.
Lieberman-Graham for FOIA presidents...go Holderman. Our government has become the middle men in our class warfare with corporate America and guess who they support. Want single payer...can't have it...the minority says so.
June 5, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The courts are irrelevant 'cause if they uphold the law congress will just make a new one giving the exec exactly what he wants...just like with Bush.
Only when the senate is eliminated do the people stand a chance because at least the House is representative of the population. 2 senators from Utah having as much say as 2 senators from California...what is wrong with that picture??
June 5, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh boy you have just pushed my button!
The fact that Mississippi and Alabama have as much say so in the US Senate as New York and California....... that is EXACTLY what is wrong with America. That is why we fight a TRILLION dollar war in Iraq for no good fucking reason and why we CANNOT AFFORD heath care for one out of six Americans, and the others get shit, and worry, and bankruptcy.
It is exactly because the ignorant redneck uneducated illiterate morons who are waiting for Holy Jeebus to save them have so much more say so than their numbers warrant.
ALABAMA HAS EQUAL SAY SO AS CALIFORNIA IN THE SENATE !!!
That is all you need to know about healthcare.
June 7, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can see it now.
The Feds say the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act does not apply because Tiller's killer's act did not prevent anyone from having access to a clinic entrance.
June 8, 2009 6:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
These people need to be prosecuted under RICO statutes, and their assets seized prior to trial. They are clearly a group of US-based terrorist organizations, and must be ruthlessly suppressed, as their homegrown exploitation of the tolerance structured into our society makes them far more dangerous than al_Quaida can ever hope to be.
June 5, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've also wondered why some of these organizations who are obviously pushing people to do these horrible acts can't be prosecuted under the RICO act. There is clearly a plan in place to incited as much hatred as possible toward these individuals and just wait to see what happens. They may not be planning out the details of the murder but they are clearly responsible.
June 5, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, they have, but the Rehnquist Court shot it down.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/februaryweb-only/2-24-41.0.html
June 5, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
One only needs to listen to what O'Reilly spouted on numerous occasions to see he was cultivating and calling for terrorism. Where are the consequences. With no knowledge of patients records or conditions he screamed 'baby killer' rather than 'mother saver'. Screamed "mass murderer, won't someone stop him" rather than "life saver, give him a medal for bravery"...all for money and ratings. He and Fox supported terrorism...where are the consequences...or is it only terrorism when it involves a Muslim.
Operation Rescue, Beck, O'Reilly, Hannity, Rush, all as guilty as the man that pulled the trigger.
Terrorists and terrorists supporters, calling for the murder of the "baby killer". If I had millions would I pay to have their tongues ripped out of their mouths...would they conspire to murder? Where's your patriot act now, where's the 'detention'. How many more Health care providers need to be killed before the FBI intervenes and removes these radical terrorist groups claiming to be pro life while murdering people.
June 5, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bookmark the White House contact page.
Send little notes every day, like "Hey, just read on TPM that Dr. Tiller's alleged killer may have violated FACE and you should kick the FBI or somebody in the butt and do something about. Love, Rupert T. Bear."
June 5, 2009 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Family guy ref in screen name?
(I like it).
June 5, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I still haven't figure out is why, as Michael Moore pointed out in Fahrenheit 9/11, the government was infiltrating anti-war groups like the Quakers (for Pete's sake) in the runup to the Iraq War, but if they've ever tried to infiltrate Operation Rescue then it's clear that they did a poor job of it.
Rachel Maddow has been asking why that guy in Arkansas who was supposedly under FBI scrutiny was able to amass an arsenal and hundreds of rounds of ammo.
The question applies here, too. Maybe most of the members of Operation Rescue are peace-loving folks, too. That shouldn't mean that the government will just stand aside and let them blow away anyone who disagrees with them.
June 5, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Noble comment Long Memory.
June 5, 2009 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
This crime needs to be investigated and those complicit of failing to act on the complaints and actions punished at the max!
June 5, 2009 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tiller was shot Sunday morning. This is Friday afternoon. Why?
June 5, 2009 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are all correct, but someone (ideally the president) in the current administration needs to state publicly that this war on women and their doctors will not be allowed to continue, that violators of FACE will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law - major fines, jail time, etc. for EVERY violation.
June 5, 2009 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Regarding this matter, I hope the DOJ will also look into Bill O'Reilly's involvement in incitement to commit murder.
June 5, 2009 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too.
June 6, 2009 4:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still think Randall Terry, founder of operation rescue is behind all this. He was behind the crazies protesting at Notre Dame and immediately issued a statement about Tiller's death saying "I am more concerned that the Obama Administration will use Tiller's killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions." So he and his group and the crazy woman who works for them are really behind this and are basically asking for this to be brought out and are spoiling for a fight with the Obama adminstration. But I think they are mistaking the mood of the country this time. Reagan and Bush are no longer president and I can't believe a future lawsuit involving a clinic would lose again.
June 5, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Randall Terry, O'Reilly, and everyone else who abetted before and after should stand trial for capital murder with the actual shooter!
June 5, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
They tried a RICO prosecution once -- in Chicago, but it failed. As I remember they hauled in Henry Hyde, former Rep., as a Defense Witness. But that was before the Patriot Act, and I would imagine that some of the approaches to Domestic Terrorism Prosecution contained therein, could well accomodate what's involved here. Essentially you are looking at a conspiracy to destroy lives of Abortion Providers and facilities -- and it seems to me that the conspiracy is as clear here as for instance in the case of those poor loosers in Miami, who wanted to blow up Sears Tower in Chicago, but first they needed some name brand tennis shoes.
So let's see if they provide the personnel resources, and call a Federal Grand Jury -- that will be the test.
June 5, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
As Liberals we are weak and unlike the repubs are completely unable to force the governement to act. Look at the current administration and all of the Bush policies they are still supporting.
Hell, got news for ya the current SCOTUS nominee is Anti-Choice.
Hence, don't be surprised if the murderer of Dr. Tiller is found innocent in a KS court and walks away a free man.
Then it'll be open season on anyone who performs abortions. Hurray for rightwing terrorists!
Nice to see the right in this country knows how to get things actually done.
Maybe, one day the left will learn how to get things done too... Doubt it will ever happen, I've seen first hand how cowardly and weak the left in this country is.
June 5, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
the current SCOTUS nominee is Anti-Choice.
What makes you think so? I read that she told Obama she regards Roe as "settled law."
June 5, 2009 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
That doesn't mean she's not anti-choice, personally or professionally.
If she's not clearly on record as being pro-choice, chances are she's not pro-choice. Given her nitpicking (detailed) reading of case law, I don't see any reason for pro-choice people to embrace her. SCOTUS can overturn or amend its prior rulings on a whim with ever so slight provocation.
I think she's getting a lot of dumb-looking attacks to distract people from taking a close look at her. I'm not saying I think she'd make a bad judge.
June 5, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...As Liberals we are weak and unlike the repubs are completely unable to force the governement to act. Look at the current administration and all of the Bush policies they are still supporting...."
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY...Get the message. They lost a million a yr on Hannity four 4yrs before ever making a dime yet kept him on the air. They pay Rush $400 mil/yr.
Air America barely survives. When these 400 riches American families inherit billions every generation (remember Johnson and Johnson) it's obvious too much money has accumulated into too few hands making them richer than all America put together and conservative/corporate America wants it to stay that way...at any cost. They not only sold 1 aspirin to every person on the planet but sold 30/mo to 3/4ths of them since aspirin was discovered. Stop the flow of inherited wealth once it goes above 30 mil., campaign finance control, take away corporate 'personhood', vote to have either the filibuster or the senate removed and we'd be heading toward a level playing field. Can't afford national health care or social programs but spend "double" the money on defense as all other nations in the world "combined". Our democracy in name only has been exposed for the fascists corporatocracy it has become. Like Reagan just "tell" everyone America is great and that's all they want to hear ...or know.
June 5, 2009 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
America is an empire in steep decline and it may be too late to save it from the corporate assholes that bought this country piece by piece! Time to get real, citizens: your country belongs to the corporations and there's nothing you can do about it!!
June 7, 2009 1:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
C'mon Americans... you want justice for the murder of Dr. Tiller, but a whole third of your population consists of gun-wielding Christian nuts like Dr. Tiller's murderer... and the other two-thirds watch the corrupt corporate media for their prepackaged drivel every night... America, you're a decadent empire... time to face reality!
June 7, 2009 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
With Tiller's murderer calling the AP this weekend and claiming more violence is planned by others, the FBI and Justice need to take these domestic terrorists on. They represent a clear and present danger to law abiding Americans across the country. Where is Homeland Security on this conspiracy to commit murder and violence?
June 8, 2009 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink