Addington, Yoo, Ashcroft refusing to testify at Judiciary on torture/interrogation policies

[seafan]

Lawmaker Threatens Subpoenas for Aides




David S. Addington drafted key memos. (David Bohrer - AP)



John Yoo



John Ashcroft



By Carrie Johnson
April 29, 2008; Page A04

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee threatened yesterday to subpoena Bush administration officials who have refused to appear at a hearing on torture and interrogation policies.
Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) said he would "have no choice but to consider compulsory process" if current and former officials, including vice presidential chief of staff David S. Addington, reject the panel's requests for testimony next week.

Former attorney general John D. Ashcroft and John C. Yoo, a former Office of Legal Counsel deputy have rebuffed the committee's request. Yoo cited Justice Department instructions that he not discuss the "deliberative communications" he had with other administration officials.
Their refusal marks the latest skirmish in a lengthy battle over the scope of presidential authority and the administration's treatment of detainees. Under Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and his predecessor, Alberto R. Gonzales, the Justice Department has refused to enforce congressional subpoenas for testimony.

Addington, the top aide to Vice President Cheney, played a critical role in developing and drafting anti-terrorism strategies after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and drafted several key memos on detainee policy. ..... "The chief of staff to the vice president is an employee of the vice president, and therefore is not in a position to speak on behalf of the president," wrote Kathryn L. Wheelbarger, counsel to the vice president, in an April 18 letter made public yesterday.

.....

Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley, wrote several controversial memos underpinning the administration's use of coercive interrogation techniques. His lawyer said in a letter that Yoo's testimony would present "difficult issues of executive privilege and attorney-client privilege."

Ashcroft left the Justice Department in 2005 and now leads a lobby and consulting firm. He cited in his refusal to testify his workload and the likelihood that Congress would ask questions that would breach attorney-client privilege and executive privilege. Ashcroft and Yoo also noted they are defendants in lawsuits filed by civil liberties groups over the administration's national security policies.

"We're going to push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop." ----http://www.nybooks.com/articles/20858">David Addington, in The Terror Presidency: Law and Judgment Inside the Bush Administration, by Jack Goldsmith

Arrest them, Mr. Conyers.

[yellerpup]

1. Be the larger force, Mr. Conyers.

Make them STOP! :kick: K&R!

"We're going to push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop." ----David Addington

[ThomWV]

2. So, three more times Congress is told to Go Fuck Yourself.

That would be the same Congress that Represents us. It is we who are being told to go fuck collective selves.

[spanone]

3. so again, the bu$h* criminals refuse to answer to anyone....send the marshalls mr conyers

[L. Coyote]

4. We are moving steadfastly towards a major impeachment prosecution.

[zanne]

5. They're from the Nancy Reagan School of government...

Just say "no".

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

6. Who the fuck do those three think they are?

Send the marshall's is exactly what they deserve. Addington and Yoo are traitorous bastards.

[bdamomma]

7. arrest the bastards if they do not comply.

they are not above the law!!!

and this comment:

"We're going to push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop." ----David Addington, in The Terror Presidency: Law and Judgment Inside the Bush Administration, by Jack Goldsmith



THEN PUSH THEM THE FUCK BACK. :grr:

[Supersedeas]

8. how long will Nancy Disaster deeeeeelay, before finally caving to the Yes Men

[DainBramaged]

10. She's too busy bouncing her Grandkids around Congress

[bluesmail]

9. get the sargeant at arms off to do what hasn't been done

haul their asses to jail and let them talk to THEIR lawyers about what to do next.

[bluesmail]

11. so when the entire gang of (I've lost count) all are in contempt...

I'm praying Conyers has a plan and a plan B
And in the meantime a group of D's are putting together plans to finance the war, brilliant. No sarcasm intended.

[Winterblues]

12. Maybe Congress could sue them......

Seems to be their answer to all the subpoenas that have been ignored..I also am quite sure the court will just laugh at them...It is because of this Congress thyat I am giving up on Democrats.. They have proved beyond any doubt that Nader was correct. "There is little difference between the Parties"

[4waterfalls]

13. not about party

its about justice..and the US Constitution
indict convict impeach inprison!

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. YAWN... at least they are trying

but nothing will come from this