Conyers Considers "Criminal Referral" For Gonzales, Other DOJ Officials. AG Won't Pursue Contempt.

[mod mom]

Conyers Considers "Criminal Referral" For Gonzales, Other DOJ Officials
By Andrew Tilghman - July 28, 2008, 12:43PM
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are talking about a criminal investigation for DOJ officials -- Alberto Gonzales included.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said today's report about politicization in at the DOJ suggests that former AG Alberto Gonzales and other Justice officials may have given false statements under oath before Congress.

Conyers said in a statement this morning:
The Report also indicates that Monica Goodling, Kyle Sampson, and Alberto Gonzales may have lied to the Congress about these matters. I have directed my staff to closely review this matter and to consider whether a criminal referral for perjury is needed."

A spokesman for the committee said the committee's lawyers are currently looking over the report and past testimony on the Hill.
That's probably not as dramatic as it sounds. Any criminal referral would be passed on to DOJ, which has so far refused to appoint a special prosecutor for the matter. Attorney General Michael Mukasey has said he's not going to pursue contempt referrals from Congress.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/conyers_considers_criminal_ref.php

[groovedaddy]

1. JUST DO IT!!! n.t

[mod mom]

2. I swear my head will explode if they don't!

[Diane R]

3. Is there a chance they're purposely dragging this out until there's a new administration?

[KharmaTrain]

4. Muck-Assey Already Has The Whitewash Out

Conyers has to say "may" as this finding is simply that...not an indictment. In a normal, non-corrupt system that would mean Muckasey would take this report to a grand jury and ask for indictments. I've got a bright shinny dime he won't...and for that alone, he should...rather MUST be impeached. But won't.

Once agin, the shit sandwich hits...dare to indict these underlings and be assured that boooshie will swoop in and Scooter them to assure their silence...a silence that assure the getaway of the real masterminds. There's a crying need for an independent proseuctor to be appointed and start the ball rolling...ready to issue indictments on 1/21/09.

[liberal N proud]

5. Can they impeach Mukasey?

He is deciding what laws he will enforce.

[lonestarnot]

7. Or which individuals to enforce the laws against. Selective enforcement on a grand scale.

[Ian David]

6. More words from Johnny Letter. n/t

[pleah]

8. He's considering! Hey, Conyers, how about another strongly worded letter!

Chickenshit!

[NightWatcher]

9. Conyers wont do shit. Just like his (non) impeachment hearings

John, we know you're full of shit

[mod mom]

10. Emptywheel thinks disbarring is the best we can hope for:

I guess that means we'll just have to try to get Sampson and Goodling and Nowacki disbarred based on this report.

Update: Conyers and Sanchez are considering a criminal referral for perjury. I'm still reading the report, but I bet this would be a tough thing to pull off, since Sampson did admit Goodling's politicization of Immigration Judges, and Monica admitted to it all.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/07/28/the-monica-goodling-report/