Justice Department Reviewing Ashcroft

[kskiska]

FEC Data Pointed to Possible Violations

By Walter Pincus

The Justice Department's Public Integrity Section is reviewing allegations that Attorney General John D. Ashcroft may have violated federal campaign finance and disclosure laws based on information developed by the Federal Election Commission.

The Public Integrity Section is responsible for determining whether allegations merit investigation as potential criminal violations of campaign finance and disclosure laws and for making recommendations as to whether a special counsel would be needed when a potential conflict of interest with senior Justice officials exists.

At issue is the valuable campaign fundraising list of then-Sen. Ashcroft. He had claimed ownership of the fundraising list during an FEC inquiry, but had not reported it as an asset on his Senate or Justice Department financial disclosure statements.

Justice's inspector general, Glenn A. Fine, disclosed the review in an April 14 letter to the National Voting Rights Institute, an election law interest group, which disclosed it to The Washington Post.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47648-2004Apr27.html

[hang a left]

1. How does that laugh go on the Simpson's?

Ha-ha.

[Hepburn]

2. Criminal charges?

From the article, it looks like he got a civil fine and now they are looking at the possiblity of charging him criminally. LOL, there IS a God! Can you imagine that azzhole on trial, convicted and ending up in jail! LMBO!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!!! :headbang:

[MO_Dem]

3. Ya mean "Mr. Holier-than-thou"

might be a....criminal???? Heeeheeeeheeeeheeeeee

[Hepburn]

5. Yeppers!

From the article:

Because the FEC can deal only with civil violations, NVRI asked Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey Jr. on Jan. 15 to appoint a special counsel to investigate whether Ashcroft or his committees had broken any criminal laws.

On March 4, having received no answer from Comey, NVRI asked the inspector general to investigate "potential civil and criminal violations of federal law" by Ashcroft and the two campaign committees.

Fine wrote to NVRI that the "matters in your previous letter to the deputy attorney general . . . had been referred to the Public Integrity Section for its review." There was no reference to the possible appointment of a special counsel.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Democat]

4. Sounds good but the crooks will find a way to get rid of it

Bush loyalists take no responsibility and don't care about laws.

[DustMolecule]

7. Stop that kinda talk.....

....we're gonna take some 'wins' here. THIS would be a wonderful (and just) start. Justice should start in the 'Justice Department' .... yeah, I like that.... :-)

[Hepburn]

6. Got interested and did a bit more digging:

"Prosecution Guidelines

This case falls squarely within Department of Justice guidelines for criminal prosecution which authorize such prosecution for campaign finance law offenses when "core" provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act have been violated. The guidelines specify that excessive political contributions from an individual or a PAC constitute violations of core provisions. 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a)."

This is from Summary of Joint Letter Calling for Special Prosecutor in Ashcroft Campaign Finance Case

http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/20040115/index.php

[dusty64]

8. I'm sure asscrack's

handpicked cronies will conduct another hardhitting and "fair" "investigation of their boss. What a joke this all is, too bad it is so far from funny.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

9. Thank you

:party:

I am having a nasty-ass afternoon, and the thought of AssKKKroft being investigated (though I have no doubt it'll be buried or the chief investigator will be killed in a small plane crash) helps lift my heart a bit.

[catzies]

10. To truly do justice, the "Public Integrity" Section would find

Ashcroft doesn't have any.