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Docs Belie Rove's Claim That His Aide Was "Freelancing" In Pushing For Iglesias Firing
Zachary Roth | August 11, 2009, 3:35PM
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This won't come as a shock ... but the just released documents on the U.S. attorney firings make it clear that Karl Rove was far from straight with the House committee that interviewed him last month.
According to the transcript of the interview, Rove said that his top aide, Scott Jennings, was "freelancing" in trying to get David Iglesias fired in the summer of 2005. Rove told his interviewers that Jennings "had strong feelings about Iglesias" after having done political work in New Mexico.
But the documents show that Rove was aware of Jennings's discussions with Allen Weh, the New Mexico GOOP chair, on the subject of firing Igesias. Indeed, when Rove got an email from Weh on the subject, in August 2005, he ordered Jennings to bring up the issue with the White House counsel's office.
So this was hardly just a case of Jennings "freelancing."
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Noam Sane
August 11, 2009 4:19 PM
....and this is hardly a smoking gun. But thanks for trying.
Having read through some of the transcript, he's as slippery as ever.
I know we would all like to see him do a perp-walk...but personally I'd be happy if he just crawled back under his rock forever.
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jeffgee
August 11, 2009 4:36 PM in reply to Noam Sane
Keep hoping. Meanwhile Rupert Murdoch can't get enough of him at the WSJ and Fox Noise.
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Xanderthal
August 11, 2009 4:20 PM
Karl Rove mislead Congress?
I'm shocked! Shocked!
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fname
August 11, 2009 4:21 PM
link? Quote?
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JoshQuasimoto
August 11, 2009 4:45 PM
I am currently reading the Myiers transcript, am not a lawyer, but it seems like her judicial views are rather nuanced and liberal. I mean just this first 30 or so pages, Mr Schiff has to ask her the same questions over and over just to get a straigh answer out of her for example,
Q Well, the appointment of a successor would have to be preceded by the removal or resignation by a U.S. Attorney, right?
A I would have to think about that, whether it happens
11
upon the appointment pursuant to the statute or whether you have to actually ask the person to step down and the person do so. But I don't -- I'd have to look at the statute. Q But, generally, the U.S. Attorneys are appointed for 4 years and allowed to continue their -- allowed to fulfill their full 4-year term? A I think it is every individual circumstance. Certainly, the vast majority would do exactly that.
here is another example of her nuance,
Q Would it be appropriate to remove a U.S. Attorney simply because one of the President's political allies or supporters has asked that U.S. Attorney to be removed? A That would depend on the circumstances.
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TheraP
August 11, 2009 4:49 PM in reply to JoshQuasimoto
Nuance? Sounds like evasiveness to me!
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JoshQuasimoto
August 11, 2009 5:24 PM in reply to TheraP
Not only evasiveness but it appears that she was quite hostile at many points getting frustrated that Mr schiff had to keep asking the same question.
My first question, if these guys and gals are supposed to be conservatives, how come they take such a liberal/expansive view of legality and legal precedent?
I remember reading a quote from during the Sotomayor confirmation hearings (maybe Sheldon Whitehouse quote) where he pointed out that Justice Roberts himself in many cases, as well as most of the conservative leaning Justices, were the most likely to overturn precedent. It does not ring true to me that a conservative is able to claim any sort of high-ground by changing statute or precedent while at the same time, their political base has been saturating the media, legal community and America in general that activist judges are liberal. The activist judges these days are conservatives who use their bench to push their own ideological agenda.
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AJM
August 12, 2009 4:30 PM in reply to JoshQuasimoto
She's quibbling. While it might be true that technically you could appoint someone to an office currently held by someone else you would at least have to be anticipating a vacancy.
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simsby
August 11, 2009 4:45 PM
Shouldn't the title read "belie"?
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GTFOOH
August 11, 2009 5:05 PM in reply to simsby
Shouldn't the title read "helie"
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Whenwillthisnightmareend
August 11, 2009 5:12 PM
The question is, So what if these people lie with impunity and have selective recall during this hous interview; what is congress or the justice department going to do about it. Lying to congress is a crime and these people are so habituated to lying that they can't help themselves. I've got an idea, Put them all in prison, and while you're at it let them try out a few stress positions for their comfort. It's time for vindication.
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SavannahGA
August 11, 2009 5:19 PM
After reading through Rove's q&a I want him under oath about Don Siegelman. As a witness the Rover thinks he's smarter than he is, always a plus for any & all questioners.
Oh & btw, "As far as I recall...as far as I recall...as far as I recall..." speaks volumes to potential prosecutor(s) reviewing your testimony, Herr KKKarl.
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Agateman
August 11, 2009 5:37 PM
You mean fatso has lied. You go to be pulling my weenie!
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ignoreland
August 11, 2009 5:42 PM
Caution - lowflying strongly worded letter sighted in the DC area!
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TM
August 11, 2009 5:46 PM
Perjury???? Jail time?????
I will believe it when I see it.
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commie atheist
August 11, 2009 5:57 PM
the New Mexico GOOP chair
May they become mired in their own GOOP forever, like the mastodons in the La Brea tar pits.
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Larry Linn
August 11, 2009 8:11 PM
Poor KKKarl. His domga wa run over and killed by his own KKKarma.
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follow the money
August 11, 2009 8:35 PM
one from: Crooks and liars website today:
"Harriet Miers Finally Admits it, Fingers Rove:
The US Attorney firings were Political"
susie Madrak/crooks an liars.com
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/karl-rove-and-harriet-miers-finally-a
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Jemand von Niemand
August 11, 2009 9:33 PM
Gee. I wonder what all the email traffic that was run through private servers, the drives of which were wiped despite Congressional requests, would show us if it had survived, and been subpoenaed?
I hate to break Godwin's law, but Fat Karl is the Eichmann of the political wing of the 'Lil' Boots' Bush years. He's so twisted and broken a person that he actually believes that he's succeeded, that he's won something in the past ten years. I'd like to see his life made very hard at a minimum, or his sizeable ass in a prison cell.
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