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House Judiciary Wants Docs On Prosecution of Dems
Members of the House Judiciary Committee want the Justice Department to hand over documents, among them correspondence with the White House, related to three controversial prosecutions, including that of former Gov. Don Siegelman (D-AL).
In a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, three Democratic House Judiciary members, including chairman Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), voiced their concern that the Bush Administration's Justice Department has pursued and ignored prosecutions based on politics.
The letter names three specific cases they want to investigate. In addition to Siegelman's case, the other two are: former Wisconsin state procurement officer Georgia Thompson whose conviction was overturned by the Seventh Circuit and prominent Democrat and coroner Cyril Wecht who was accused of misusing his official staff (similar allegations against local Republicans were not investigated).
The members are requesting "documents relating to the Department’s handling of three cases, and in particular any memoranda, analysis, or other communications discussing whether and to what extent criminal charges should be and were pursued" in addition to "any memoranda, analysis, or other communication from any White House staff, members of congress or their staff, and any state or local political party officials or their staff."
"While the above cases are by no means an exhaustive list of all alleged instances of politically-motivated prosecutions or lack of prosecutions," the lawmakers wrote, "we believe that learning the truth about these three prosecutions is an important step in the process of restoring the Department of Justice’s credibility and reputation for impartial justice."
Gonzales has until July 27 to produce the materials.
Comments (10)
Steve5117 wrote on July 17, 2007 4:13 PM:I wonder at what point Gonzo will be hauled in again to explain the DoJ's lack of cooperation.
EH wrote on July 17, 2007 4:38 PM:Are they trying to paint the Administration into an Executive Privilege corner? I can't figure out why they would think that this information would be handed over at all, given recent behavior by the White House, so I wonder to what end this kind of sandbagging of requests serves.
If indeed it's a pinning move, it would be neat if once all of these EP claims are asserted that the HJC/SJC figures out a way to remove EP and then all of these topics come flooding out.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on July 17, 2007 5:17 PM:Actually, given that the first analysis of this issue hit the web over four months ago . . . The phrase "about fucking time" comes to mind.
anon wrote on July 17, 2007 5:25 PM:FWIW, seems to me that the meat in the Siegelman case is more likely to be found in AL than in DC. There were plenty of old AL hands involved in Rove's take over in AL and by the time of the Siegelman indictments I suspect local talent was in charge. I would not be surprised if Rove and Co sent some illegal Blackberry messages about Siegelman but I would also not surprised if all they sent was notes of encouragement and nothing too illegal. They had been working on Siegelman for some time by the time of the AL USA indictments and I think people in AL knew how to handle it. To sort out the Siegelman mess, it's going to take more, I suspect, than whatever is left in the DoJ files in DC.
tofubo wrote on July 17, 2007 6:38 PM:comparison:
Executive Order 11454
Inspection of income, excess-profits, estate, and gift tax returns by the Senate Committee on Government Operations
Executive Order 11457
Inspection of income, excess-profits, estate, and gift tax returns by the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives
Executive Order 11461
Inspection of income, estate, and gift tax returns by the Committee on Public Works, House of Representatives
Executive Order 11465
Inspection of income, excess-profits, estate, and gift tax returns by the Committee on Internal Security, House of Representatives
Executive Order 11483
Inspection of income tax returns by the Select Committee on Crime, House of Representatives
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/1969-nixon.html
phillydem wrote on July 17, 2007 6:48 PM:I've always been suspicious of the prosecutions in Pennsylvania. In addition to Wecht, there was the investigation of former Pgh mayor, Tom Murphy, Phila mayor John Street and state senator Vince Fumo. All are major players in the state's Democratic strongholds of Allegheny county and Philadelphia.
JNagarya wrote on July 17, 2007 11:58 PM:"Are they trying to paint the Administration into an Executive Privilege corner? I can't figure out why they would think that this information would be handed over at all, given recent behavior by the White House, so I wonder to what end this kind of sandbagging of requests serves."
This isn't a game, ass; turn off Sports Channel. It is democratic due process of law, much of it behind the scenes. Note that the next time Sara Taylor goe to Congress, it will be to give deposition. That is behind closed doors, and done by skilled lawyers; which means, Congress knows a whole hell of a lot more than being revealed.
IT issn't a stupid-assed "pinning move"; it is the building of a legal case based upon hard evidence -- not on incivility and bullying.
"If indeed it's a pinning move, it would be neat if once all of these EP claims are asserted that the HJC/SJC figures out a way to remove EP and then all of these topics come flooding out."
"A system of laws, and not of men." -- John Adams. This isn't a game, a cop show, or a movie.
Posted by: EH
JNagarya wrote on July 18, 2007 12:01 AM:Date: July 17, 2007 4:38 PM
"Democracy is responsibility." -- Justice Louis Brandeis.
Impeachment is inevitable. Make it happen.
Anonymous wrote on September 24, 2007 1:55 PM:u suck
Anonymous wrote on September 24, 2007 1:55 PM:u suck