Bush can use Executive Privilege EVEN AFTER leaving office.

[redirish28]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Bush_may_be_able_to_block_1113.html


President George W. Bush appears likely to claim executive privilege in blocking subpoenas after he leaves office, according to a report Wednesday.


Three Congressional investigations into the President and his administration remain open. They include the role of Bush advisers Karl Rove and Harriet Miers in the firing of eight US attorneys, the prosecution of former Democratic Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and the torture of detainees held by US forces.

But if Congress filed fresh subpoenas, Bush could file a court petition seeking exemption under executive privilege. President Harry Truman claimed privilege in 1953, a year after he left the Oval Office, and Congress eventually backed down.

Moreover, President-Elect Barack Obama may actually stand in the way of Bush probes. All presidents generally try to preserve the powers of the presidency, and allowing release of information about his predecessor could subject Obama to unwelcome scrutiny after his own departure.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. "could subject Obama to unwelcome scrutiny after his own departure" ???

Or maybe the Obama administration could just stay on the straight and narrow for 8 years and not worry about being investigated.

[Onlooker]

2. Obama needs to use the threat of investigation ...

... for political leverage. If he lets Bush and Cheney get away with their crimes in exchange for Republican support for his initiatives, I'm all for it. Bush and Cheney will still wield some power with Republican powerbrokers after they leave office. For instance, I think the Republican powerbrokers would rather support Obama's health care plan than have their Party further weakened by investigations and prosecutions. Obama should not waste political capital on vengeance and justice, as nice as that would be.

[shraby]

3. If that's the case, he can be impeached after

leaving office.