GUILTY AS CHARGED-Whoever-With Intent To Avoid-Evade-Prevent-Or Obstruct Compliance-In Whole Or...

[kpete]

At this point in Bush's Presidency three things matter above all others. They motivate this final round of constitutional hardball: The first is keeping secret what the President and his advisers have done. The second is running out the clock to prevent any significant dismantling of his policies until his term ends. The third is doing whatever he can proactively to ensure that later governments do not hold him or his associates accountable for any acts of constitutional hardball or other illegalities practiced during his term in office.
http://balkin.blogspot.com/2007/07/constitutional-hardball-in-bush.html





LII / Legal Information Institute


TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 73 > § 1505 Prev
§ 1505. Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees


Whoever, with intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative demand duly and properly made under the Antitrust Civil Process Act, willfully withholds, misrepresents, removes from any place, conceals, covers up, destroys, mutilates, alters, or by other means falsifies any documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony, which is the subject of such demand; or attempts to do so or solicits another to do so; or

Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress—

Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001505----000-.html

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. ooooooooooooooooooh!

[Kagemusha]

2. It'd have to be under willfully withholds.

Because they didn't have to threaten Miers in any way. She's a happy volunteer.

[calimary]

3. Good stuff, kpete!

I copied it over to another thread wondering "IMPEACHMENT... on what grounds?"

Frankly, to me at least, it's a slam-dunk - to quote that miserable weasel george tenet. It's a no-brainer.

[lonestarnot]

4. Excellent

[Toots]

5. They do indeed have a basis for Contempt charges

The pResident has stated flat out that he will not be investigated by Congress He is Privileged and above the Law. He does not have to answer to anyone and he will not do so nor will he allow any of his cohorts to do so. Congress can just put their little pink tutus back on and sit back and watch how a real leader operates.