TPM Paul Kiel: DoJ Investigator Probing Gonzales Statements

[L. Coyote]

There comes a point when the turd blossom fertilizer is stacked
so high, you just have to stop trying to stack it any higher.

Perhaps this has finaly dawned on the Bush administration.
Gonzales' finger semes to no longer be in the dike.
Tomorrow is Rove's last day on our payroll.

The OSC is investigating Hatch Act violations, so expect more people to be leaving the payroll.
And now the DoJ is investigating the boss. That's what happens when you insist that up is down and down is up for too long.

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DoJ Investigator Probing Gonzales Statements
By Paul Kiel - August 30, 2007, 1:08 PM
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004038.php

The busiest employee of the Department of Justice by far must be the inspector general, Glenn Fine.

A couple of weeks ago, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asked Fine to investigate whether outgoing-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had misled the Congress and press on a number of occasions. Fine, in a letter sent today (you can read it here), has responded that he's already looking into it.

That's because Fine is already juggling a number of investigations. And those investigations will necessarily touch on Gonzales' public statements. Writes Fine:

"The OIG has ongoing investigations that relate to most of the subjects addressed by the Attorney General's testimony that you identified. In particular, the OIG is conducting a review relating to the terrorist surveillance program, as well as a follow-up review of the use of national security letters. In addition, the OIG is conducting a joint investigation with the Department's Office of Professional Responsibility into allegations regarding the removal of certain United States Attorneys and improper hiring practices. ....

[L. Coyote]

1. TPM: Leahy Asks Inspector General to Probe Gonzales Statements

It did not take long for Gonzales to resign after this one!

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Leahy Asks Inspector General to Probe Gonzales Statements
By Paul Kiel - August 16, 2007, 12:55 PM
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003937.php


In a letter today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asked the Justice Department's inspector general to probe whether Alberto Gonzales has made false or misleading statements. The IG, Glenn Fine, a former prosecutor who's respected by Democrats and Republicans alike, is already engaged in a joint probe with the Department's Office of Professional Responsibility of the U.S. attorney firings and general politicization at the DoJ.

The inspector general has the power to refer matters for a criminal investigation, but Leahy doesn't want him to stop there:

"I ask that you review the Attorney General’s testimony and compare it with other testimony and evidence to determine whether his testimony was in any instances intentionally false, misleading, or inappropriate. Consistent with your jurisdiction, please do not limit your inquiry to whether or not the Attorney General has committed any criminal violations. Rather, I ask that you look into whether the Attorney General, in the course of his testimony, engaged in any misconduct, engaged in conduct inappropriate for a cabinet officer and the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, or violated any duty – including the duty set out in federal regulations for government officials to avoid any conduct which gives the appearance of a violation of law or of ethical standard, regardless of whether there is an actual violation of law."

Perjury can be a high bar for prosecutors to reach -- but so too should there be a high standard for the conduct of the attorney general. ...........

[L. Coyote]

2. kick