Impeachment Update: Video of Wexler's Response to Bush Attorney General

[annabanana]

Source: my inbox

Dear (annabanana)

Two weeks ago, the House took a bold step demanding accountability for the Bush/Cheney Administration by holding former White House Council Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten in Contempt of Congress for blatantly ignoring congressional subpoenas for over 8 months.

Though it was not a surprise, Attorney General Michael Mukasey, wrote a letter to the House of Representatives stating that he refuses to call a Grand Jury to enforce those contempt citations.

The Attorney General's letter, effectively claiming that members of the executive branch are immune from congressional subpoenas, calls for quick action.

Click HERE to watch my latest video discussing Mukasey's outrageous response.
http://wexlerforcongress.com/multimedia.asp?ItemID=239

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Judiciary Chairman Conyers have smartly decided to pursue a civil lawsuit to force Bolton and Miers to appear before Congress. We should pursue a lawsuit – but I think we can do even more.

While a court may order – months from now –that Miers and Bolten must appear before Congress, by then George Bush and Dick Cheney will have largely accomplished their goal of running out the clock on the investigation into this Administration's politicization of the Justice Department. Even a successful outcome in federal court might only mandate that they appear, at which time the witnesses are likely simply to continue their obfuscation by claiming executive privilege of the 5th Amendment in person.

The House of Representatives must re-establish its legitimate rights as a co-equal branch of government. Congress cannot allow its power to be summarily ignored and justice delayed.

The House was correct to hold these renegade White House officials in contempt, and much credit should be given to Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Conyers for pushing for that outcome. Now, we must go further: The House must immediately consider taking the following actions:


- Initiating impeachment hearings that would likely break through the reckless claims of executive privilege made by the Bush Administration.

- Approve a resolution that calls for an inherent contempt citation which would give the House Sergeant at Arms the power to bring Miers and Bolton before Congress.

As you may know, 17 of my colleagues, including four of my fellow members of the Judiciary Committee have joined my call for impeachment hearings.

This is not an issue between Democrats and Republicans. As members of Congress, we have an absolute duty to enforce the checks and balances prescribed by our Constitution.

We have ceded too much for too long, enabling George W. Bush to assume a unitary imperial Presidency. It is long past time to secure accountability for those who have, by all appearances, committed significant breaches of our laws and trust.

Mukasey's claims are simply the latest in a long line of outlandish legal arguments ranging from the idea that we can selectively cherry-pick from torture laws to the concept that the Vice President is no longer part of the Executive Branch (except, of course, when he needs to claim Executive Privilege).

Over the past months, I have received tens of thousands of emails and letters from you expressing your great support for my efforts. Your encouragement and activism on these causes are much appreciated. I continue to work hard on your behalf and hope you feel these updates are valuable.

With kind regards,

Congressman Robert Wexler


Read more: Email from Wexler

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HE IS CONSIDERING INHERENT CONTEMPT
(see underlined above)

[zanne]

1. Is the administration trying to run out the clock?

I wonder if they assume that it'll all go away the minute Bush is out of office. I personally don't like the odds.

[annabanana]

2. I do not think there are statute of limitations on war crimes. . .n/t

[salin]

4. and bush's most recent "signing statement" almost dares that

to be pursued in the future. If not in the US, then perhaps in the IWC.

[psychmommy]

5. it would if the right person was in the wh

mccain would definitely take care of them. a clinton could sweep it under the carpet again. sure they can get away with it.

[fasttense]

6. McCain would take care of them?????

Yeah right, like making sure the bushes are protected from prosecution, like making sure the bushes never have to be held accountable, like making sure the idiotic theory of "free trade" continues to help out the bushes and McCain cronies but destroys the American middle class.

After that big fat hug McCain gave the bush after the bush dragged McCain's name through the mud during the repuke primaries. That big fat hug clearly explained how much McCain was willing to kowtow to the bushes.

I'm sure McCain will take care of the bushes by giving them another big fat hug this time in the shape of a pardon.

[zanne]

7. McCain is IN it with them!nt

[DeeDeeNY]

3. The situation screams out for inherent contempt

but we shouldn't hold our breaths.
I hold the Senator from my state - Schumer - responsible for helping to bring in this excuse of an attorney general.