Religions > Atheism > Top Justice Official Resigns - Bush Defense of US Attorney Firings Going Up In Smoke
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michelle Malkin" |
| Date: |
06 Mar 2007 09:11:09 AM |
| Object: |
Top Justice Official Resigns - Bush Defense of US Attorney Firings Going Up In Smoke |
If Republican Senator Domenici is kicked out of
office, who would replace him?
From Zepp News:
#Top Justice official resigns; Top House Democrat says 'wheels comin
Posted by: "Zepp" The_Zepp
Mon Mar 5, 2007 7:14 pm (PST)
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Top_Justice_official_resigns_Top_House_0305.html
Justice official resigns; Top House Democrat says 'wheels coming off'
Bush defense of US attorney firings
Michael Roston
Published: Monday March 5, 2007
Print This Email This
The sudden resignation of a top government official involved in the
sacking of US attorneys has raised eyebrows in Congress. The chairperson
of a congressional subcommittee investigating the situation said that
the official's sudden exit from government service showed that "the
wheels seem to be coming off" the administration's defense of its actions.
The Associated Press today reported the resignation of Michael A. Battle
as Director of the Executive Office for US Attorneys. According to the
AP report, Battle "had personally informed the ousted U.S. attorneys of
their removal" but was reportedly not involved in the decision-making
leading to the firings.
He had, AP reported, "notified U.S. attorneys of his decision in January
and had informed the department last summer that he wished to pursue
opportunities in the private sector." A DOJ spokesperson told the AP
that "His departure is not connected to the U.S. attorney controversy
whatsoever."
Battle's resignation raised the suspicions of Democratic Members of the
House Judiciary Committee who are investigating the firing of US
Attorneys by the Bush White House.
"The wheels seem to be coming off the Bush Administration's increasingly
hollow defense of its decision to fire eight U.S. Attorneys," said Rep.
Linda Sánchez (D-CA), the Chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee's
Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
She added, "The Administration's explanation of Mr. Battle's apparent
resignation is as murky as everything else they have told us about this
case."
The Judiciary Committee's Chairman, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) added,
"Battle's resignation raises even more questions about the growing
fallout from the firing of the U.S. Attorneys."
According to the White House website, Battle has served in his current
position since June 2005. Prior to the Executive Director position, he
served as US Attorney for the Western District of New York from January
2002 to May 2005.
House Democrats to subpoena two more US Attorneys
The Chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law (CAL), announced on Monday morning that her
subcommittee will seek to issue subpoenas to two additional former U.S.
Attorneys who were fired by the Bush Administration.
"The CAL Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00 am in 2141
Rayburn House Office Building, to vote on issuing subpoenas to former
U.S. Attorneys Daniel Bogden of Nevada and Paul K. Charlton of Arizona,"
a press release states. "The subpoenas would require them to testify
before the subcommittee at its hearing scheduled for the same afternoon,
joining four other former U.S. Attorneys who CAL subpoenaed last week."
"We intend to issue these subpoenas because Mr. Bogden and Mr. Charlton
can shed additional light on the Bush Administration's apparent decision
to pursue a political agenda through the selection of federal
prosecutors," said Chairwoman Linda Sánchez. "Even months after the
firings, we still haven't gotten straight answers from the Department of
Justice, which changed its own story this weekend and admitted the
firings weren't based on job performance."
The following release was sent to RAW STORY by the House Judiciary
Committee's Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
#
Monday, March 5, 2007
JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE INTENDS TO SUBPOENA TWO ADDITIONAL FORMER U.S.
ATTORNEYS
Washington - Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Chairwoman of the House
Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL),
announced this morning that her subcommittee will seek to issue
subpoenas to two additional former U.S. Attorneys who were fired by the
Bush Administration.
The CAL Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00 am in 2141
Rayburn House Office Building, to vote on issuing subpoenas to former
U.S. Attorneys Daniel Bogden of Nevada and Paul K. Charlton of Arizona.
The subpoenas would require them to testify before the subcommittee at
its hearing scheduled for the same afternoon, joining four other former
U.S. Attorneys who CAL subpoenaed last week.
"We intend to issue these subpoenas because Mr. Bogden and Mr. Charlton
can shed additional light on the Bush Administration's apparent decision
to pursue a political agenda through the selection of federal
prosecutors," said Chairwoman Sánchez. "Even months after the firings,
we still haven't gotten straight answers from the Department of Justice,
which changed its own story this weekend and admitted the firings
weren't based on job performance."
"We believe Mr. Bogden and Mr. Charlton can add valuable information to
this panel of former U.S. Attorneys, and I look forward to hearing their
testimony," said Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers.
The hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 at 2:00 pm, will
consider a bill by Congressman Howard Berman that would reverse a new
provision in the USA PATRIOT Act allowing the Attorney General to
indefinitely appoint federal prosecutors through the end of the Bush
Administration without Senate confirmation.
#
Group files ethics complaint against GOP Senator
In related news today, an ethics complaint was filed by Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) against a Republican
senator to see if he violated senate rules by contacting one of the
attorneys, prior to his termination.
"Today Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked
the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate whether Sen. Pete
V. Domenici (R-NM) violated Senate Rules by contacting the U.S. Attorney
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, David C. Iglesias, and pressuring him about
an ongoing corruption probe," the CREW press release states. "Sen.
Domenici has acknowledged that he contacted Mr. Iglesias to inquire
about an ongoing corruption probe of Democrats."
In the press release, Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director, states,
"The Senate Ethics Committee should take advantage of the fact that Mr.
Iglesias will be in Washington testifying before Congress to convene its
own hearing to learn the details of Sen. Domenici's telephone call. If,
as it appears, Sen. Domenici pressured a sitting U.S. Attorney to push a
criminal case to benefit a political party, the Ethics Committee should
take swift and harsh action. No member of Congress can be permitted to
manipulate our system of justice for political gain."
CREW press release follows:
#
Washington, DC - Today Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington (CREW) asked the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to
investigate whether Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) violated Senate Rules
by contacting the U.S. Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico, David C.
Iglesias, and pressuring him about an ongoing corruption probe.
Sen. Domenici has acknowledged that he contacted Mr. Iglesias to inquire
about an ongoing corruption probe of Democrats. Mr. Iglesias previously
stated that in mid-October, he was pressured about the pace of the
investigation by two New Mexico lawmakers. Initially, when asked about
Mr. Iglesias's allegations, Sen. Domenici stated, "I have no idea what
he's talking about." Sen. Domenici has now admitted that he called Mr.
Iglesias, stating, "I asked Mr. Iglesias if he could tell me what was
going on in that investigation and give me an idea of what time frame we
were looking at."
In a discussion of Senate Rule 43, the Senate Ethics Manual states that
"[t]he general advice of the Ethics Committee concerning pending court
actions is that Senate offices should refrain from intervening in such
legal actions . . . until the matter has reached a resolution in the
courts." The manual also indicates that Senators are not to communicate
with an agency regarding ongoing enforcement or investigative matters.
CREW's complaint alleges that Sen. Domenici violated Rule 43 by
pressuring Mr. Iglesias to act quickly on a pending corruption
investigation. Moreover, given that Sen. Domenici made the call shortly
before the November elections, he appears to have violated the
prohibition on contacting agencies based on political considerations.
CREW also alleges that by initially denying Mr. Iglesias's allegation,
Sen. Domenici may have violated Senate rules by engaging in "improper
conduct which may reflect upon the Senate."
Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director, stated, "The Senate Ethics
Committee should take advantage of the fact that Mr. Iglesias will be in
Washington testifying before Congress to convene its own hearing to
learn the details of Sen. Domenici's telephone call." Sloan continued,
"If, as it appears, Sen. Domenici pressured a sitting U.S. Attorney to
push a criminal case to benefit a political party, the Ethics Committee
should take swift and harsh action. No member of Congress can be
permitted to manipulate our system of justice for political gain."
CREW's letter to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics and related
documents are available on CREW's website.
http://www.zeppscommentaries.com
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| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Top Justice Official Resigns - Bush Defense of US Attorney Firings Going Up In Smoke |
07 Mar 2007 06:45:31 PM |
|
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In article <2aedndXIRI0RGXDYnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Michelle Malkin" <hypatiab7@comcast.net> wrote:
If Republican Senator Domenici is kicked out of
office, who would replace him?
From Zepp News:
#Top Justice official resigns; Top House Democrat says 'wheels comin
Posted by: "Zepp" The_Zepp
Mon Mar 5, 2007 7:14 pm (PST)
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Top_Justice_official_resigns_Top_House_0305.
html
Justice official resigns; Top House Democrat says 'wheels coming off'
Bush defense of US attorney firings
Michael Roston
Published: Monday March 5, 2007
Print This Email This
The sudden resignation of a top government official involved in the
sacking of US attorneys has raised eyebrows in Congress. The chairperson
of a congressional subcommittee investigating the situation said that
the official's sudden exit from government service showed that "the
wheels seem to be coming off" the administration's defense of its actions.
The Associated Press today reported the resignation of Michael A. Battle
as Director of the Executive Office for US Attorneys. According to the
AP report, Battle "had personally informed the ousted U.S. attorneys of
their removal" but was reportedly not involved in the decision-making
leading to the firings.
He had, AP reported, "notified U.S. attorneys of his decision in January
and had informed the department last summer that he wished to pursue
opportunities in the private sector." A DOJ spokesperson told the AP
that "His departure is not connected to the U.S. attorney controversy
whatsoever."
Battle's resignation raised the suspicions of Democratic Members of the
House Judiciary Committee who are investigating the firing of US
Attorneys by the Bush White House.
"The wheels seem to be coming off the Bush Administration's increasingly
hollow defense of its decision to fire eight U.S. Attorneys," said Rep.
Linda Sánchez (D-CA), the Chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee's
Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
She added, "The Administration's explanation of Mr. Battle's apparent
resignation is as murky as everything else they have told us about this
case."
The wheels are coming off indeed. Between this and Scootergate, it's
time to start the impeachment hearings.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
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