VP's Office To Conyers: "You really ought to be bugging a presidential aide"

[kpete]

Administration Officials to Conyers: Catch Us if You Can
By Paul Kiel - April 29, 2008, 11:17AM

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) knew he was going to get a fight. And he's getting one.

.........................

Both Yoo and Ashcroft say that they have not been authorized by the Department of Justice to discuss the context of the key torture memos, internal discussions about them, and the like. And both say that they are the subject of lawsuits, and so it would be "inappropriate" to testify.

But it won't surprise anyone that the letter from Kathryn Wheelbarger, Vice President Dick Cheney's counsel, is the real masterpiece. It is by now common knowledge that Addington is by far the most powerful and influential lawyer in the administration, particularly with regard to the controversial counterterrorism policies such as torture and the warrantless wiretapping program. But Wheelbarger says that Conyer's got the wrong guy. If you're looking to discuss presidential powers in war time, then you really ought to be bugging a presidential aide, she writes. And if it's interrogation you want to talk about, then "the Director of National Intelligence or his designee and the Secretary of Defense or his designee, respectively, would be the appropriate witness." From there, it's on to an argument about how the power of Congress to investigate is limited, so Addington cannot be compelled to show. And then on to an argument about how Addington, due to privilege concerns, wouldn't be able to say much even if he did show voluntary.

So to sum up, that's: You're asking the wrong person, but even if you were asking the right person, you couldn't make him show up, and even if he did show up, he wouldn't say anything.

As for Conyers, he says he will issue subpoenas to those who do not agree to appear by this Friday.

more at:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/administration_officials_to_co.php

[Canuckistanian]

1. To Hell with subpoenas

Inherent Contempt charges.

And fast!

[L. Coyote]

3. You realize that you have to ignore a subpoena to be in contempt, right?

Although I admire the spirit. Too bad Conyers has to follow rules of law. !!

[Canuckistanian]

5. Hmm, you're right

But you know they have already ignored subpeonas.

Any subpeona issued today will be equally ignored.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. K+R n/t

[msongs]

4. john conyers' subpoenas are no stronger than toilet paper in a tornado...so far nt

[calimary]

6. Any idea what kind of "bugging" they're referring to?

The nuisance kind or the wire-tapping kind?

I'm just blown away by the BRAZEN arrogance of these people!!!

[bdamomma]

11. it is sickening isn't it?

their arrogance is criminal.

[calimary]

13. Yeah, no kidding! Utterly.

And like Helen Thomas said out loud a few days back, "where is everybody?" I'd like to know, too.

[grasswire]

7. ohgee -- I thought this meant like wiretapping

gack

[CJCRANE]

8. "presidential powers in war time"...

That's their get-out-jail-free card for everything.

[warren pease]

9. But it also elevates "treason" to "high treason" ...

...which is a capital crime. Instead of parsing the word "war" and disputing whether the US in engaged in one (or more) at the moment, how about we just take them at their word.

Then, if there is justice in the universe and they're ever brought to account for these offenses in this country, it'll be fun to watch them try to save their useless skins by claiming that this was never a war after all, since congress didn't sign a declaration of war and blah, blah, blah...

Should make for some "must see TeeVee."


wp

[bdamomma]

10. defiant criminals

the arrogance of these people is stunning.

[Supersedeas]

12. Kathleen Wheelbarger -- another attorney to disappear into the offices of another rightwing law firm

a name to remember along with Libby Goodling Yoo Sampson Griffin Taylor Addington Bybee Gonzalez just to name a few -- one day she might take Fieldings seat in a future rightwing admin