« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
The Daily Muck
Republicans in the House offered a resolution to investigate Rep. William Jefferson following his indictment this week. Not to be outdone, the House Democrats offered a proposal that would require the ethics committee to investigate automatically any lawmaker within thirty days of an indictment or report. Both proposals were approved. (NY Times)
Yesterday Attorney General Alberto Gonzales confirmed that a controversial warantless wiretapping program was the reason for his late-night run to John Ashcroft's hospital bed. The disclosure conflicts with Gonzales' 2006 testimony that the program had not been met with objections by members of the Justice Department. (Think Progress)
Bradley Schlozman’s testimony yesterday left Senators with plenty of information to grapple with. Schlozman admitted that he boasted about hiring Republican lawyers, though denied that he took political affiliation into account when filling career positions. He also left the Democratic panel deeply suspicious of the timing of voter fraud indictments he brought just before the midterm election in Missouri. Sen. Leahy (D-VT) was particularly irate during the testimony, accusing the Justice Department and the White House of stonewalling the committee's investigation. (Boston Globe, LA Times, McClatchy Newspapers)
Republicans looking for a place to relax and pad their resume need look no further than the Department of Homeland Security. (ABC’s The Blotter)
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is seeking to expand the investigation of links between Jack Abramoff and the White House. (Associated Press)
We reported last week that former interim US Attorney Tim Griffin was shopping for a job with Fred Thompson. But it seems Griffin’s newfound infamy is hampering his job search; a chairman of a national law firm said, “we got a phone call from a recruiter on his behalf but wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole.” (Think Progress)
Both President Bush and Vice-President Cheney expressed their sympathy for Scooter Libby following his sentencing yesterday to 30 months imprisonment. Bush constrained his statements to feeling “terrible” for Libby’s family. However, Cheney went so far as to say he hoped Libby would eventually get off, an unusual stance for someone who should be on the "USA" side of "USA vs. Libby." (Associated Press)
Pittsburgh's US attorney, Mary Buchanan, is set to meet privately with House investigators this week regarding her role in the selection of US attorneys to be fired. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Comments (16)
JNagarya wrote on June 6, 2007 10:48 AM:Here we go again --
"Yesterday Attorney General Alberto Gonzales confirmed that a controversial warantless wiretapping program was the reason for his late-night run to John Ashcroft's hospital bed. The disclosure conflicts with Gonzales' 2006 testimony that the program had not been met with objections by members of the Justice Department. (Think Progress)"
We still don't know that "a" program is "the" program. That Schumer asked specifically about reports that there was disagreement about the NSA program does not mean the program Gonzales is referring to is the NSA program; his response to Schumer included the statement that the disagreement was about a _DIFFERENT_ program.
Why assume he was lying on that point, and allow no other possibility? Bias?
Why is no one asking the obvious questions:
Why would the FBI Director threaten to resign over a program _OUTSIDE_ the FBI?
Why would the FBI Director be involved in the issue, but _NOT_ the NSA Director, if the program was the NSA program?
Why would the FBI Director even know about an NSA program?
meander wrote on June 6, 2007 10:48 AM:Re: Libby pardon
If President Bush has a situation where he temporarily needs to transfer the powers of the president to VP Cheney, could Cheney do a "quickie pardon" of Libby while in command? (or has the President already given Cheney the power of the pardon to go along with his declassification powers...)
Re: USA investigation
Will Monica Goodling testify before the Senate Judicial Committee?
JNagarya wrote on June 6, 2007 11:04 AM:"Re: USA investigation
"Will Monica Goodling testify before the Senate Judicial Committee?
"Posted by: meander
Date: June 6, 2007 10:48 AM"
I hope so. And it won't be so easy to get an immunity agreement with the Senate Judiciary Committee, if even possible, in view of the fact that she appears to have lied against the AG who was replaced with Schlozman.
Though it appears she may have made that statment in a way which allows her to later claim she only heard about the investigation of the AG who was replaced at second hand.
Still, it won't be so easy, if even possible, to get immunity in the Senate.
Anonymous wrote on June 6, 2007 11:08 AM:Wow! The Democrats were deeply suspicious! The earth shakes.
Anyone know why the Republicans didn’t bother to show for this hearing? It is an admission that even they know the hearings don’t matter.
Libby’s sentence will be commuted to time served and a fine if he can’t drag out admission to jail through the appeal process . He’ll have to await January 2009 for a full pardon.
JNagarya wrote on June 6, 2007 11:12 AM:"The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is seeking to expand the investigation of links between Jack Abramoff and the White House. (Associated Press)"
Excellent! Go Waxman!
This should yield some serious information.
Even if only (initially) more stonewalling. Abramoff, though, has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by cooperating with the investigation. And outside his cooperation with the Bushit FBI.
SC = wheel. As in, I'm gonna be a wheel someday. Or, in the alternative, As the wheel turns, what goes around comes around.
JNagarya wrote on June 6, 2007 12:06 PM:"Anyone know why the Republicans didn’t bother to show for this hearing? It is an admission that even they know the hearings don’t matter."
If you know the answer to the question, why do you bother asking it?
The Watergate break-in was first reported in the newspapers in June, 1972. The first investigation of it began in the Fall-Winter, of 1972 -- but it didn't get anywhere because the Republicans boycotted the committee investigating, thus preventing it having a quorum, thus preventing it investigating.
In this instance, the foremost reason the Republicans didn't show is to attempt to pretend the investigation has no credibility, is a "fishing expedition". It may also be that they know the facts about Schlozman, and that his lying under oath would occur, and that the Democrats were getting him on the record doing that.
So instead of bashing the no-show foot-dragging Republicans, you bash the Democrats. Does that make sense? No -- unless you're a Republican troll who will bash the Democrats regardless the facts and realities.
"Libby’s sentence will be commuted to time served"
You really know what you're talking about here: he hasn't served any time, therefore can not be excused "for time served".
"and a fine if he can’t drag out admission to jail through the appeal process."
The judge has made clear that Libby is going to serve 30 months and pay a fine of $250,000. We don't know yet what the results will be on appeal because that hasn't happened yet. It is quite possible that the judge will deny bail during the appeal process, so Libby will cool his ass in jail.
"He’ll have to await January 2009 for a full pardon."
We don't yet know what will happen on that point. But, though not very good at predicting the present -- see above re. your "time served" speculation -- you can, unlike everyone else on the planet, predict the future.
"Posted by:
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on June 6, 2007 12:27 PM:Date: June 6, 2007 11:08 AM"
Laugh of the Day: Curt Weldon, under federal investigation for corruption for more than a year, will be investigating corruption in Bangladesh.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/6/prweb531010.htm
Mrs panstreppon wrote on June 6, 2007 12:39 PM:Re The Blotter's story about GOP patronage jobs at the Deparmtent of Homeland Security
The best is Richard D. Davis II, former soccer coach at a Christian academy in Fullerton, California, becoming Director of the Weapons of Mass Effect Prevention Task Force.
Davis's official bio:
"Director of Prevention Policy for the Homeland Security Council at the White House, and is responsible for counter-terrorism policy development. He previously served the George W. Bush Administration as the Director of the Weapons of Mass Effect Prevention Task Force and Director of the Academe, Policy and Research Senior Advisor Committee at the Department of Homeland Security."
Mrs P wrote on June 6, 2007 12:41 PM:Re The Blotter's story about GOP patronage jobs at the Deparmtent of Homeland Security
The best is Richard D. Davis II, former soccer coach at a Christian academy in Fullerton, California, becoming Director of the Weapons of Mass Effect Prevention Task Force.
Davis's official bio:
"Director of Prevention Policy for the Homeland Security Council at the White House, and is responsible for counter-terrorism policy development. He previously served the George W. Bush Administration as the Director of the Weapons of Mass Effect Prevention Task Force and Director of the Academe, Policy and Research Senior Advisor Committee at the Department of Homeland Security."
Jim Houston wrote on June 6, 2007 1:10 PM:Please someone charge the asshole gonezales with perjury! What does it take to get congress off its but
Jim Houston wrote on June 6, 2007 1:13 PM:Please someone charge the asshole gonezales with perjury! What does it take to get congress off its butt?
mo2 wrote on June 6, 2007 2:13 PM:March 29, 2007 Op ed in LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-rich29mar29,0,3371050.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail
"Seven career managers were removed in the civil rights division. I personally was ordered to change performance evaluations of several attorneys under my supervision. I was told to include critical comments about those whose recommendations ran counter to the political will of the administration and to improve evaluations of those who were politically favored."
-JOSEPH D. RICH was chief of the voting section in the Justice Department's civil right division from 1999 to 2005. He now works for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
whidbeygrl wrote on June 6, 2007 2:48 PM:RE: Buchanan
According to the Pitt. Post Gazette article/link, Buchanan was appointed U.S. attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania in September 2001
PLUS
served as " director of the executive office from June 2004 to June 2005 ".
This makes several reports of USA's holding double jobs...wonder if they get double pay?
So, question is...who exactly does any real work at DOJ? It sounds as if DOJ is nothing more than a taxpayer supported transit station for shuffling favored folks off to various election rigging and resume padding gigs, on their relentless march to selected Federal Judgeships, and/or state governor posts.
Sheesh...
Jeff wrote on June 6, 2007 3:04 PM:---Begin Rant---
I'm normally one for due process, get the facts out, operate in a political environment of necessity, play nice, etc, but...
Isn't it about time someone started tossing some arrests for Lying to Congress around? Unless I am wrong, there are several contradictory testimonies on various matters that were made UNDER OATH (granted, my memory is not good enough to tell me which ones). If that is the case, SOMEONE is lying under oath, which I am pretty sure is illegal.
Maybe if jail time (see Libby, Scooter) is around some people will start 'recalling' things and maybe telling the truth...
---end rant---
ed pefferman wrote on June 6, 2007 4:19 PM:Scooter Libby should be shot as a traitor, rather than jailed as a lier. His boss, ElDuce should be shot right along side him.
freepatriot wrote on June 6, 2007 5:10 PM:"Republicans in the House offered a resolution to investigate Rep. William Jefferson following his indictment this week."
when was the last time a repuglican filed a resolution to investigat an indicted congressman ???
Traficant, Rostenkoski ???
wanna bet that the bugman, the dukstir, and bob ney all got a pass ???