« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
The Daily Muck
Senator Demands Attorney General Clear Iglesias' Name
"Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote Gonzales on Friday demanding that the attorney general clear David Iglesias' name. Schumer's letter came the day after Gonzales' former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, testified before Congress that in hindsight, he would not have recommended Iglesias for dismissal." (USA TODAY)
Democrat's Won't Reschedule Gonzales
"For all the explanations Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has given about his role in the firing of eight U.S. prosecutors, he hasn't yet given one under oath to Congress. For the White House, it suddenly seems that day can't come fast enough. The Bush administration scrambled Sunday to move up Gonzales' planned April 17 testimony. The idea was rejected by Democrats, who said it was too late to adjust the schedule." (Associated Press)
Leahy Finds Chance to Fight Executive Privilege Strategy
"Thirty-three years ago, Patrick Leahy, a local prosecutor from Vermont, was so outraged at President Nixon's attempt to use executive privilege to hide damaging revelations during the Watergate scandal that he used the issue to help him win election to the US Senate. Now, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Leahy has found a chance to strike a blow against executive privilege." (Boston Globe)
Crime Intensifies Debate Over Taping of Suspects
"An Arizona case involving a brutal crime has reached all the way to the halls of Congress, part of a still-stewing dispute within the Justice Department over a critical law enforcement question: Should interviews with criminal suspects be tape-recorded? Paul K. Charlton, the United States attorney in Arizona, was ousted after spending months protesting a Federal Bureau of Investigation policy that, for practical purposes, forbids the taping of almost all confessions, in stark contrast to the practice of many local law enforcement agencies in Arizona and other locations across the country." (NY Times)
Former House Leaders Weigh In on FBI Cases
"Embattled Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA), the target of a two-year public-corruption probe, is finding himself with strange bedfellows these days. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), former House minority leader Robert Michel (R-IL) and Scott Palmer, former chief of staff for Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), are among those who have filed friend-of-the-court briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, backing Jefferson's argument that the controversial FBI raid on his office last May was unconstitutional." (NY Times)
Ex-Partner of Giuliani May Face Charges
"Federal prosecutors have told Bernard B. Kerik, whose nomination as homeland security secretary in 2004 ended in scandal, that he is likely to be charged with several felonies, including tax evasion and conspiracy to commit wiretapping. Kerik's indictment could set the stage for a courtroom battle that would draw attention to Kerik's extensive business and political dealings with former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who personally recommended him to President Bush for the Cabinet." (Washington Post)
Scandals and Missteps Dog Nevada Governor
"As Jim Gibbons campaigned for the Nevada governorship last fall, the five-term Republican congressman ricocheted from scandal to scandal and from gaffe to gaffe. Since Gibbons took office, his troubles have only increased, as scandals continue to break around him and local representatives lambast his ignorance of his own legislation." (Washington Post)
The First Contract
"New questions arise concerning Mitchell Wade's first White House contract -- and his long and deep-rooted relationship with the vice president." (American Prospect)
Program's Creator is Hired to Assess It
"The government contractor RMC Reasearch Corp., which set up a billion-dollar-a-year federal reading program for the Education Department and failed to keep it free of conflicts of interest, is one of the companies now evaluating the program. This section of the No Child Left Behind Act is in the midst of a congressionally mandated evaluation under a 2003 contract with a team that includes RMC." (Washington Post)
Detainee Alleges Abuse in CIA Prison
"A high-level al-Qaeda suspect who was in CIA custody for more than four years has alleged that his American captors tortured him into making false confessions about terrorist attacks in the Middle East, according to newly released Pentagon transcripts of a March 14 military tribunal hearing here." (Washington Post)
Comments (11)
Stuart Eugene Thiel wrote on April 2, 2007 10:09 AM:Gonzales clear Iglesias's name? This is ridiculous. What could Gonzales possibly say about integrity, competence, etc., etc., that have the slightest influence on anyone?
Iglesias has cleared his own name by coming forward.
Anonymous wrote on April 2, 2007 10:26 AM:I'm sick and tired of people who seem so set on always giving the WH the benefit of the "doubt". If it were just one single issue, I'd agree. But taken in the context of so very many different incidents of contradictions, revised statements, convenient loss of memory, implausible denials and blatant lying, isn't it time that everyone admit that the cumulative weight of evidence indicates the WH is "undoubtedly" guility? Giving this WH the benefit of the doubt isn't being fair, it's being stupid!
Anne wrote on April 2, 2007 10:50 AM:All Gonzales has left is the stonewall. He can't admit that Igleasias should not have been fired, because he's already on the record saying it was the right decision. Of course, he is also on the record saying that he did not participate in any deliberations.
The option to give either Gonzales or the WH the benefit of the doubt came off the table a long time ago. Gonzales has a pattern of being incapable of being truthful with Congress, so there should be no expectation that any future appearances he makes, on any issue that involves the DOJ, will result in the Congress and the people being better informed or getting more of the truth.
At this point, even if Gonzales were to resign, it would not end the investigations - not when the DOJ continues to be staffed at the highest levels with political flunkies.
It is of prime importance that the DOJ be restored to a place that is focused on the application of justice, not the consolidation of power by any one particular party. That will not happen as long as Gonzales is at the helm (and the inexperienced political hacks remain), and at this point, I think the administration is caught in a trap of its own making. The Senate is not going to accept another Gonzales, and the WH cannot afford to have someone in place who could be non-partisan, because they risk becoming subject to investigation themselves.
What is so overwhelming to contemplate is that what the Bush administration has done to the DOJ, it has done to departments and agencies across the government.
Steambomb wrote on April 2, 2007 11:29 AM:What is so overwhelming to contemplate is that what the Bush administration has done to the DOJ, it has done to departments and agencies across the government.
Posted by: Anne
Date: April 2, 2007 10:50 AM
It will take years of vigilence to clean up Bushs' mess.
Robin L. Boerner wrote on April 2, 2007 12:11 PM:"Democrat's Won't Reschedule Gonzales
The Bush administration scrambled Sunday to move up Gonzales' planned April 17 testimony. The idea was rejected by Democrats, who said it was too late to adjust the schedule." (Associated Press)"
I bet they are. At the rate this is going Bush will face impeachment prospects by April 17th. Gonzo isn't willing to fall on his sword for Bush like Libby did for Cheney. I guess Shrub picked underlings based more on their ability to coverup for him then true loyalty afterall.
Al in Austex wrote on April 2, 2007 8:45 PM:Hi Steambomb,
libra wrote on April 2, 2007 9:56 PM:Yes it is very likely - that BushCo has done great damage to every Fed Dept. But in all instances in my opinion -there are career federal employees that where there before the Bushevik Putsche, and just as likely will be very helpful to righting the damage done the last several years.
I am convinced that Sen Schumer and the rest of the Democratic Posse has already got many of the answers to most of their questions already answered by the career Federal Employees.
We just need to monitor the Busheviks expungement from our Republic with keen interest & optimistic expectations for a better day of good goverance in these United States.
For a clue about how deep is the fear and loathing running on the BushCo side I would direct you to Sen Hatch's meltdown on this week's FTN .
Democrat's Won't Reschedule Gonzales
[...]The idea was rejected by Democrats, who said it was too late to adjust the schedule." (Associated Press)
The AP got it right; why couldn't you? There's a difference between plural (Democrats Won't) and a singular possessive (a Democrat's refusal to). Do us -- foreign speakers of English - a favour and lead us not into confusion
tonny@hotmail.com wrote on April 27, 2007 12:23 AM:art of penis massage
hillary@gmail.com wrote on April 30, 2007 6:09 PM:hello
nikolas@gmail.com wrote on May 1, 2007 6:43 AM:hello
dmitry@gmail.com wrote on May 5, 2007 5:06 PM:hello