Saxby Chambliss quashing subpoena? Claiming immunity?

[babylonsister]

http://www.wsav.com/midatlantic/sav/news.apx.-content-articles-SAV-2008-11-14-0044.html

Chambliss Refusing to Speak in Imperial Sugar Case

Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - 09:59 PM Updated: 10:43 PM

By Alice Massimi

News Three was the first to tell you Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss had been subpoenaed by Savannah Attorney Mark Tate in the case against Imperial Sugar.

Tate, who represents families of the deceased, subpoenaed Chambliss because he believes Chambliss has pertinent information for the case.

In a News Three follow-up, we've gotten word that Chambliss' lawyer is moving to quash the subpoena.
Tate says attorneys for Chambliss claim he has immunity because he's a U.S. Senator.

"Our clients have said to reporters that they have felt like he was trying to influence them and dissuade them from filing lawsuits. That's the kind of activity a U.S. Senator does not enjoy privilege to conduct," explains Tate.

We were unable to reach Senator Chambliss' Office for comment.

We will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest.

[dkf]

1. Guess we have to make sure he isn't a senator any more.

What in the world might Chambliss know anyway?

[SpiralHawk]

2. Saxby squashes his republi-stink

or tries to...no amount of squash can smother republi-stink

[fascisthunter]

3. The GOP is so corrupt... my gawd

it's like watching a bunch of corporate CEO's and lobbysits get positions within the GOP and use their power and influence legislation to favor corporations, donors, friends and business associates, all of which are part of the Upper Class.

The Republican Party is absolutely disgustingly corrupt to the core.

[Robbien]

4. Wonder if this is this getting much play on local television

I expect Chambliss is relying on the media not paying much attention.

[babylonsister]

5. That's where this came from, so I'm hoping they'll stick to it. nt

[Bozita]

6. I feel honored to give this thread its 5th "R"

[usregimechange]

7. He sounds like the next Stevens.

[struggle4progress]

8. The only claim Saxby might have is under Const Art I Sec 6: ".. Senators .. shall in all Cases,

except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place."

At best, he can't be arrested for failure to honor certain subpoenas when he is attending a Senate session, or traveling to or from a session and cannot be compelled to testify in Court about remarks on the floor of the Senate

The shows that the Senate has only been holding sessions on Mondays and Thursdays since mid-October; see:
Days in Session Calendar
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/ds/s1102.html

The subpoena was reported towards the end of October; see:
Chambliss subpoenaed in Imperial Sugar case
Larry Peterson | Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 11:25 pm
... Graham said at a July Senate hearing that the company stymied his efforts to make the plants safer. At the hearing, Chambliss, who in 2007 received $1,000 from Imperial's political committee, badgered Graham and questioned the Imperial executive's sincerity. The subpoena orders Chambliss to testify under oath Thursday at Tate's office. It also tells him to produce papers and e-mails provided to him by Imperial, related companies and Imperial's law firm. Tate says Imperial might have prompted Chambliss to confront Graham at the hearing, which focused on the Feb. 7 inferno ... http://savannahnow.com/node/601042