Justice Dept. to White House officials: Ignore Congress

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/24585

Justice Dept. to White House officials: Ignore Congress
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-07-12 14:16. Evidence

By Richard B. Schmitt, Los Angeles Times

Broadly-worded legal opinion says Bush lawyer and maybe others can disregard subpoenas.

Washington - In a broadly worded legal opinion, the Justice Department has concluded that President Bush's former top lawyer, and possibly other senior White House officials, can ignore subpoenas from Congress to testify about the U.S. attorneys affair.

The three-page opinion raises questions about whether the Justice Department would prosecute senior administration officials if Congress voted to hold them in contempt for not cooperating with the investigation into the firing last year of eight top prosecutors.

The opinion was prepared this week by the department's Office of Legal Counsel, in response to questions from former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers, who was subpoenaed to testify Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee. Miers told the panel in a letter faxed Tuesday night that she would not be appearing, citing the Justice memo and advice from the White House.

Under the law, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia decides whether to pursue contempt of Congress cases. While that official can exercise independent judgment, some legal experts said it might be hard to ignore the opinion from the legal counsel office, whose decisions are often viewed as controlling throughout the federal government.

Others said that, as an alternative, lawmakers might seek the appointment of an independent special counsel to investigate any contempt charges.

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[aquart]

1. Jaw dropped.

So this is how George wants to make the history books.

[19jet54]

2. SCOTUS

... 5-4 will back them up too

[aquart]

3. Maybe.

But little me believes that the Republican Party will be ever so sorry.

[wtmusic]

4. Throw out subpoenas for anyone in the Executive Branch?

Methinks Kennedy could back away from that one.

[MiniMe]

5. I agree. I think this one goes too far

[berni_mccoy]

6. THIS IS GROUNDS TO IMPEACH GONZALES!!!

[Marie26]

7. Shameless

The Dems need to get moving & appeal this up to the SC.

[jojo54]

8. Unf*ckingbelievable! eom

[Cass]

9. The benefits of politicizing the judiciary will soon be evident I'm thinking.

I wonder what Congress' next move will be. What a sad time in our nation's history.