HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CONYERS' REPORT SUGGESTS LAWS BROKEN IN ATTORNEY FIRINGS

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Report Suggests Laws Broken in Attorney Firings
By Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 25, 2007; Page A03

House Democrats, preparing for a vote today on contempt citations against President Bush's chief of staff and former counsel, produced a report yesterday that for the first time alleges specific ways that several administration officials may have broken the law during the multiple firings of U.S. attorneys.

The report says that Congress's seven-month investigation into the firings raises "serious concerns" that senior White House and Justice Department aides involved in the removal of nine U.S. attorneys last year may have obstructed justice and violated federal statutes that protect civil service employees, prohibit political retaliation against government officials and cover presidential records.

The 52-page memorandum, from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), seeks to explain why Democrats are trying to overcome an effort by the White House to shield officials and documents from the congressional inquiry through a claim of executive privilege. The report also provides the first written account of the Democrats' interpretation of the firings and the administration's response to the controversy.

The investigation "has uncovered serious evidence of wrongdoing by the department and White House staff," Conyers says.

The memorandum says the probe has turned up evidence that some of the U.S. attorneys were improperly selected for firing because of their handling of vote fraud allegations, public corruption cases or other cases that could affect close elections. It also says that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and senior Justice aides "appear to have made false or misleading statements to Congress, many of which sought to minimize the role of White House personnel."

In addition, the memorandum asserts repeatedly that the president's top political adviser, Karl Rove, was the first administration official to broach the idea of firing U.S. attorneys shortly after the 2004 election -- an assertion the White House has said is not true....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072402311.html?hpid=topnews

[mmonk]

1. Put it in the file.

We have more important things to do and elections coming in November of 2008.:sarcasm:

[libnnc]

2. Swell.

Now what?

:shrug:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. surely the FBI will investigate the fraud and corruption?

[Usrename]

14. yep, Gonzo is puting his best guys on it

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. LOL!

[madrchsod]

4. it takes a long time to develop solid evidence

of a crime/s that have been committed by the executive branch of government. shouting impeach is going to do anything to speed up the process. impeachment without conviction is masterbation..it may feel good but produces nothing

[thecrow]

5. amen

[mmonk]

9. You people want to make me scream with these ridiculous

claims we don't enough evidence for impeachment. It's so false on its face and I'm going to call people out on it. State your case without such claims as that.

[redacted]

12. Baloney. Look at the horrible precident you're creating for future administrations!

What is accomplished by not impeaching, I'll never understand.

[LittleClarkie]

13. How long did it take to put the Iran/Contra stuff together

from when it started til they had hearings?

Even then, all we got was Ollie North in jail.

[Usrename]

15. We also got Raygun lying under oath.

:shrug: That's something.

[Breeze54]

6. raises "serious concerns" that senior WH & Justice Department aides may have obstructed justice"

It's only "raising" serious concerns NOW about the WH and obstruction of justice??

:wtf:

The investigation "has uncovered serious evidence of wrongdoing by the department and White House staff," Conyers says.

Then lets do something, Senator Conyers!!

-------------------------

Rep. Conyers To Put Impeachment Back on the Table

http://dotcommonsense.blog-city.com/senator_conyers_to_put_impeachment_back_on_the_table.htm

« H E » Nation :: email

posted 01-28-07

Excerpt Baltimore Chronicle and Sentinel report

The congressman, a veteran of the Nixon impeachment hearings who recently published
a book on Bush's crimes, today announced plans to have his Judiciary Committee hold
hearings on Bush's rampant use of so-called “signing statements.” These are the documents
the president has claimed give him the power, as a commander-in-chief, to ignore laws
duly passed by the Congress.

[speedoo]

7. He's not a senator. He's a congressman. nt

[Breeze54]

11. Thanks for pointing out the typo.

:)

[Subdivisions]

8. So...

Let the frog marching begin!

[TheOtherMaven]

10. All that and two bucks

May get you a cup of coffee, some less-expensive places.

Meanwhile, Rome burns.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Hello, TheOtherMaven -- welcome to DU!