Questions about Alito's murder boards...

[BurtWorm]

I have a question for anyone regarding the propriety of Alito being prepped by NSA and DOJ staff on how to answer questions about the extra-judicial wiretapping the Bush administration claims it could order. Is it merely unethical if it's true, or might it even be illegal if Alito was actually "advised" or coached on what to say if asked?

Also, I understand a Republican Senator was on one of Alito's murder boards. Who was that Senator? Was it someone on the committee?

[ewagner]

1. Lindsay Graham

was suppossedly one of the people on Alito's "Moot Court". It was reported by NYT?

The extent of DOJ and NSA involvement hasn't been proven yet.

[BurtWorm]

2. Isn't Graham on the committee? How is that being overlooked?

It's as though a defendant were coached by a juror, isn't it? :wtf:

[ewagner]

3. Wasn't overlooked

Feingold alluded to it yesterday and I think he has an ethics complaint in mind for Graham before the full Senate....

[BurtWorm]

4. Is it my imagination or is Feingold the only Senator talking about it?

To me it seems like a much bigger deal should be made of it. I heard one mention of the Graham story last weekend and not a word since anywhere in the media. And it certainly seems to me that Alito's weak non-denials that NSA and DOJ staff were on hand to somehow witness his response to questions about the wiretapping should have pricked up the ears of any journalist worth his or her salt. Unless I'm way off base about there being something wrong with it, which I doubt, given Feingold's questions yesterday.

[ewagner]

5. Not your imagination

Feingold seems to be the only one talking about it and even he's tiptoeing a little bit (not mentioning Graham by name)...

Blogs were full of it on Monday...evidently the prep session was last Friday?

[liveoaktx]

8. VIDEO-Feingold/Alito

Was Alito coached?

[BurtWorm]

10. Thank you!

:toast:

[hang a left]

6. see this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x105479

[BurtWorm]

7. Thank you!

:toast:

[Ksec]

9. Its corrupt

And it should be against the law in a real Democracy.

Its also typical of this crop of America hating republicans that smear the legislative, judicial and executive branches of our government.

[BurtWorm]

11. Graham’s Behind-the-Scenes Coaching ... Could Violate Senate Ethics Rules

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/graham-ethics/

Coaching a judicial nominee behind-the-scenes is not the proper role for a Judiciary Committee member who must subsequently sit in judgment on that nominee. Indeed, it could be a violation of the ethical duties of a senator. Here’s what Senate Rule 37 (Conflicts of Interest) in the Senate Ethics Manual says:

“No Member, officer, or employee shall engage in any outside business or professional activity or employment for compensation which is inconsistent or in conflict with the conscientious performance of official duties.’’ … The Committee has interpreted this paragraph to prohibit compensated employment or uncompensated positions on boards, commissions, or advisory councils where such service could create a conflict with an individual’s Senate duties due to appropriation, oversight, authorization, or legislative jurisdiction as a result of Senate duties.

Having sat in on a “moot court session at the White House,” it has created at least the appearance that Graham is a partisan advocate — not an impartial evaluator — of an issue within his legislative jurisdiction.