DOJ Letter To House Judiciary: Even If You Pass Contempt Charges-We Will IGNORE!

[kpete]

DoJ Makes It Official: Contempt Stops in Congress
By Paul Kiel - July 25, 2007, 4:58 PM

The Justice Department sent a letter yesterday to the House Judiciary Committee that made the administration's position official: a U.S. attorney will not enforce a citation of contempt, should it pass the House.

Or as the letter http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/doj-contempt/, sent to the committee yesterday by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski, put it:

"As it considers the contempt resolutions, we think it is important that the Committee appreciate fully the longstanding Department of Justice position, articulated during Administrations of both parties, that "the criminal contempt of Congress statute does not apply to the President or presidential subordinates who assert executive privilege."

That last quote is indeed from a 1995 opinion from Clinton's Justice Department, which The Washington Post reported on this weekend. As the Clinton-era DoJ officials behind that memo told the Post, they didn't think that Congress could force the U.S. attorney to prosecute, but did think that the president's assertion of executive privilege should be heard in court.

more at:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003779.php

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[zabet]

1. Another thumbing of the nose and...

a great big ol' FUCK YOU from the White House to the Constitution and the American people.

[soothsayer]

2. the rule of lawlessness

[zabet]

3. It is getting close to..

torches and pitchforks time.

[A wise Man]

7. It has always been that close

The apathy of Americans were just too affraid to say it

[Junkdrawer]

4. Well, just wait 40 days, and we'll see about that....

What? 40 days too long? Where's the fire?

[global1]

5. Pathetic - Just Political Theatre.......

pointless partisan political polluting of the process.

[LiberalFighter]

6. Legal means don't seem to work.

[muntrv]

8. Ah the ole' Clinton-did-it-too-line.

[The Cleaner]

9. HOLY SCHNIKIES!

:wow:

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but
:wow:

let the games begin! Or shall I say...continue...

[proud patriot]

10. the arrogance is astounding

x(

[bobthedrummer]

19. That "arrogance" was witnessed in the last days of The Weimar Republic

as well as in any Royal Court.

[The Cleaner]

11. Second thought - but wait a minute - Clinton was IMPEACHED dammit!

So how does that square with the argument that it was Clinton's fault? Wouldn't he have just claimed exec privelege?
:shrug:

[Forkboy]

12. Pass 'em anyways.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. Sergeant at Arms--Paging Sergeant at Arms

Inherent contempt. Have the Sergeant at Arms arrest Bolton,Meiers,and Gonzales and lock 'em all up.

Edited to add: and if the Sergeant needs deputies, I know of some Iraqi War Vets who would love to step up and volunteer. They are the ones who want to make a citizen's arrest of Bush and Cheney. This would give them practice.

[puebloknot]

14. How does inherent contempt fit ito this scenario?

I thought they'd either go for the courts, or pursue inherent contempt, immediately.

Going through normal legal channels, depending on the DOJ to step up to the plate, may be just another ho-hum, running out the clock tactic on the part of the Dems. I sincerely hope not.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. I thought that if this one last final attempt

to go through the courts was stymied, they would go for inherent contempt. I'm hoping that the whole point of the exercise is to show Americans how badly Bush is obstructing justice. Then more will be behind inherent contempt proceedings and what I think would eventually come from them, namely impeachment.

[Pachamama]

16. I used to think that the Justice Dept. served the law and the people....

Not anymore....now its led by a liar and crook who thinks nothing of the Constitution and whose loyalty is to a group of criminals.

Our nation is no longer a nation of laws....

[Bitwit1234]

17. HOW IN THE HECK can they ignore inherent contempt

they have absolutely no authority to do so. If the congress passes other contempts charges they could. But it is so damn frustrating that the MSM is not playing this out. No one in the country except a few know exactly what bush and rove are doing. And make no mistake the dumb ass dirty minded rove is behind most of this.

[annabanana]

18. They are not charging INHERENT contempt.. at least, not yet. . .

What happened today was that the House Judiciary Committee voted to send charges of statutory contempt out to the whole House to vote on... This kind, the DofJ would have to prosecute... And you KNOW commander bunnypants considers the entire Justice Department his personal counsel...

[tblue37]

30. I think Cheney and Addington are front and center on this one. (eom)

[Canuckistanian]

32. While simultaneously lurking in the shadows....

Addington is a particularly nasty piece of work. The perfect co-conspirator for Cheney.

But the two of them are very careful not to leave their fingerprints on anything.

[kenny blankenship]

20. So they had this letter in hand, and decided to vote for the conventional statutory contempt charge?

Knowing it was pointless and that the full House wouldn't even vote on it until after their nice vacation.

[Lerkfish]

21. ok, now tell me again why impeachment is off the table?

Its clear they will respond to nothing less than that.

[Solly Mack]

22. I didn't think they would

(enforce it)

[Blackhatjack]

23. This is truly the announcement of an Executive Branch claiming Ultimate Power over 2 other Branches

Can it be read any other way? I think not.

If Congress allows this to pass without taking action the door is wide open for Bush to ignore in his sole discretion any Constitutional delegation of authority or any duly passed law that he does not like.

Can you say 'Constitutional Crisis?"

I think the only remedy is IMPEACHMENT.

[bonito]

24. More outrage n/t

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

25. Hence, a prosecutor outside the DOG, uh, DOG, uh, DOJ, must be appointed OR,...

,...Congress files the contempt enforcement in court, itself.

[B Calm]

26. Congress should turn to its "inherent contempt" power, last used in 1934, which entails ...

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/20/222852.php

[mmonk]

27. Another duh moment if anybody thought otherwise.

[Blackhatjack]

28. This Thread needs some K & R !!!!

[Blackhatjack]

29. This is evidence that the DOJ will not uphold the Constitution....n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

31. The junta is in full operational mode...

I might have to learn how to bear arms in order to protect my home from these criminals.