A letter sent to White House attorney Fred Fielding today by top U.S. House Judiciary Committee members offers “one last appeal” for voluntary cooperation in the U.S. Attorney firing probe, or else a “compulsory process” will begin.
The letter, sent to The BRAD BLOG by committee chair John Conyers (D-MI) and the chair of the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), takes the White House to task for their “rebuff of efforts by the Judiciary Committee to obtain voluntary cooperation” in their investigation “concerning at least nine U.S. Attorneys in 2006 and related matters.”
The letter may be downloaded below.
“Even without a single document or witness interview provided by the White House,” the letter charges, “it is clear that the White House played an important role in the events concerning the U.S. Attorney controversy.”
By way of example, the two House chairs detail Karl Rove’s admission that he intervened with both the White House Counsel’s Office and the DoJ concerning the firing of New Mexico’s U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that we will not be able to complete our investigation absent full and complete cooperation from the White House,” they write, before pointing out that “it would be constitutionally irresponsible to accept your ‘all or nothing’ limitations” for nothing more than off-the-record interviews without transcripts or public questioning.
“If the White House persists in refusing to provide information to the House Judiciary Committee, or even to discuss providing such information, on a voluntary basis, we will have no alternative but to begin to resort to compulsory process in order to carry out our oversight responsibilities,” the letter concludes.
No explanation of what such a “compulsory process” might include is offered in the letter.
The two-page letter also includes a copy of an email message from Kyle Sampson, Alberto Gonzales’s former Chief of Staff, discussing strategy for the firings of U.S. Attorneys last November. The complete letter sent to today to Fred F. Fielding, Esq., Counsel to the President, may be downloaded here in full [PDF]
Let’s just hang the bastards and give them a fair trial afterwards!
Yep…at long last impeachment is still the only way forward. Thanks, it’s just in time for W to leave office anyway.
The dems are the opposition simply because there is no one else. The only thing they really appose is W’s style. W’s style is sssooooooo bad we better reel him in before we all sink…yeah…as the indians learned–> it’s not only the man that will cut off your head to take your land you have to worry about, you must also worry about those that follow in his wake.
Cheney first H.Res 333, then Bush (of course, stonewalling any attempt to gain Senate approval of a Bush-appointed V.P.) and then President Polosi can take office.
I’m not happy about it, but at least it would put everybody on notice. Conyers moves for impeachment of most of the Bush Cabinet, and President Polosi says: “Of course I will turn over EVERY DOCUMENT IN THIS WHITE HOUSE to make sure justice is done.”
MASS FIRINGS of all the hired Bush croneys who can’t cut their way out of a wet paper bag with a sharp knife and then on January 24, 2009, a Democratic President (Gore?) can start the long, slow process of re-building America. I just hope they don’t EVER, EVER forgive or forget or stop talking for even a second about the criminal, hateful, vile and evil actions of the Rethuglicans.
EVERY TIME THEY SIGN A BILL, it should begin with “To correct the horrors of the previous Republican Administration’s illegal actions, sanctioned for too long by a Republican-controlled congress, …”
INDICT, TRY, CONVICT and JAIL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM.
Last minute conversions can buy you a shorter sentence, ONLY IF THERE IS NOT A SINGLE “I Don’t RECALL” in YOUR TESITMONY AND if caught in a lie, then you lose your deal AND get the book thrown at you, plus, lying to Congress is treason, so a little extraordinary rendition and waterboarding might not be a bad idea.
Let the streets of Washington run red with the blood of Rethuglicans (metaphorically, of course).
CharlieL
Portland, OR
Off The Grid snarked –
Yeah, that’s true. If by “W’s style” you mean his penchant for breaking the law, ignoring the constitution, and believing that he can do anything he wants in contravention of both.
For the record, Impeachment isn’t about removing someone from office, in my opinion, at least not in this case — since you mention that he’s “soon leaving offic anyway”. It’s about accountability and the Constitutional duty of members of Congress to assure the bar is not forever lowered for a U.S. President due to George W. Bush’s illegal and unsupportable activities (which you laugh off as his “style”).
If he’s not pushed back, I hope you’ll come to enjoy Hilary’s or anybody else’s similar abuse of power in the coming years when it’s done by someone you’re not so friendly towards.
I’m glad we’re closer to the inevitable, especially because I just read this at http://www.truthout.org:
Bush Anoints Himself as the Ensurer of Constitutional Government in Emergency
By Matthew Rothschild
The Progressive
Friday 18 May 2007
In a new National Security Presidential Directive, Bush lays out his plans for dealing with a “catastrophic emergency.”
With scarcely a mention in the mainstream media, President Bush has ordered up a plan for responding to a catastrophic attack.
Under that plan, he entrusts himself with leading the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch. And he gives himself the responsibility “for ensuring constitutional government.”
He laid this all out in a document entitled “National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51” and “Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-20.”
The White House released it on May 9.
Other than a discussion on Daily Kos led off by a posting by Leo Fender, and a pro-forma notice in a couple of mainstream newspapers, this document has gone unremarked upon.
The subject of the document is entitled “National Continuity Policy.”
It defines a “catastrophic emergency” as “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government function.”
This could mean another 9/11, or another Katrina, or a major earthquake in California, I imagine, since it says it would include “localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies.”
The document emphasizes the need to ensure “the continued function of our form of government under the Constitution, including the functioning of the three separate branches of government,” it states.
But it says flat out: “The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government.”
The document waves at the need to work closely with the other two branches, saying there will be “a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government.” But this effort will be “coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers.”
Among the efforts coordinated by the President would ensuring the capability of the three branches of government to “provide for orderly succession” and “appropriate transition of leadership.”
The document designates a National Continuity Coordinator, who would be the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
Currently holding that post is Frances Fragos Townsend.
She is required to develop a National Continuity Implementation Plan and submit it within 90 days.
As part of that plan, she is not only to devise procedures for the Executive Branch but also give guidance to “state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure.”
The secretary of Homeland Security is also directed to develop planning guidance for “private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators,” as well as state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.
The document gives the Vice President a role in implementing the provisions of the contingency plans.
“This directive shall be implanted in a manner that is consistent with, and facilitates effective implementation of, provisions of the Constitution concerning succession to the Presidency or the exercise of its powers, and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 USC 19), with the consultation of the Vice President and, as appropriate, others involved.”
The document also contains “classified Continuity Annexes.”
——-
Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to read John Nichols’ The Genius of Impeachment — The Founders were most determined that we should never again live as Pawns under a King.
(Monkey poop for brains,.. frat-boy – GWB)
I’m the commander guy – yup,..
any other questions ?
Okay,.. let’s go bomb Iran.
“believing that he can do anything he wants” not “believing” ,he DOES do anything HE wants and gets away with it it seems.
mick
When Pelosi came into office, I e-mailed, faxed, and called on the importance of Impeachment! It wasn’t on her plate! It needs to be on record – that way when the neocons try to rewrite history, they can’t rewrite that! gw was a dismal failure in business and a dismal failure as “commander guy”.
Brad commented on the letter:
Yesterday I posted, in another Bradblog thread, what Gonzales and Rove have not learned in civics class:
(John Dean, emphasis added). Yes, it is not commonly remembered that the Congress has its own police force and jail.
They have the power, under the US Constitution, on only a majority vote (not 2/3), to jail Gonzales for his false statements.
It is easier than impeachment, which requires 2/3 votes. He would whine and scream like a stuck pig.
For all of you people waiting for the day when he steps down from Presidency and the next person steps up, remember that he now already has control of formerly-state run National Guard units, and he now can declare ‘martial law,’ suspend the Constitution indefinitely, and prevent people from buying any more guns.
Oh yeah, and I forgot to tell you, if/when martial law occurs, elections are suspended indefinitely as well.
In light of Barbara Bellow’s post # 5, I would encourage all to check out this site:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO409F.html
Yes, the DoD/Pentagon has the ability to cause severe weather patterns. This is not some crazy conspiracy theory but well documented facts. Anyone ever heard of Tesla and what our government has created with his work, a little known project called HAARP? Scientists have called for the records of when it has been activated to see if it has coincided with some of the intense storms in recent years. I’m not disputing global warming, but global warming is a really good cover for the misuse of this system. I’d really like to see the scientists calling for an investigation into this matter taken seriously, especially in light of what post #5 has to say!
The more Congress exposes these desperate thugs and makes stealing elections harder for them, the more likely they will resort to whatever means to bring their fascist dreams to fruition, just look at that legislation (#5) sneaking in under the radar with the help of the complicit MSM.
Actions will always speak louder than words, and who besides the totally brainwashed can deny their illegal actions over and over again? Our biggest problem is their legitimate (not that I believe they were ever legitimately elected) time is running out, and judging them by their actions anything can happen.
The subject matter is Gonzales, not presidential or vice presidential impeachment.
It will never happen, in that it requires a 2/3 majority, and both houses are nearer to 50/50 than they are 2/3 … think practical.
Just put Gonzales in jail by simple majority vote (post #9).
Where are all the good politicians???
… Phil E. Drifter said on 5/22/2007 @ 6:01 am PT…
“…Presidency …, remember that he now already has control of formerly-state run National Guard units, and he now can declare ‘martial law,’ suspend the Constitution indefinitely, and prevent people from buying any more guns.”
—-
What would happen if each State were to suspend and disband their National Guard unit? Do they have the authority to do that? How could Bush continue to keep those soldiers in Iraq (or anywhere else) if they are no longer members of a National Guard?
Nothing gives Bush the Power to suspend the Constitution. He might assert it, but that’s just one man’s opinion.
Declaring Martial Law is something outlined in the Constitution and Bush can’t change that.
Of course, Constitutional questions all go through the NeoCon Supreme Court, so maybe he can be dictator whenever he wants and they’ve just been holding off until they have other support instruments in place. Who knows.
We go on doing our will as Americans.
MarkH said:
(post #15, emphasis added).
The term “martial law” does not appear in the US Constitution, so I was wondering what you mean by that term and where it is indicated in it?