Democrats press Rice on U.N. envoy nominee Bolton (re Plame leak)

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-07-27T204439Z_01_N27272933_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-BUSH-BOLTON-DC.XML

Democrats press Rice on U.N. envoy nominee Bolton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday to say whether U.N. ambassador nominee John Bolton was questioned in the investigation of the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are trying to determine if Bolton answered a routine questionnaire truthfully when he indicated he had not been interviewed or asked to supply information for a recent grand jury investigation.

California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer said Bolton, a blunt-spoken conservative who has drawn fire for his abrasive style, should not be sent to the U.N. post until lawmakers have a definite answer on the veracity of his response.

Citing reports President Bush may bypass the Senate and appoint Bolton while Congress takes its upcoming summer recess, Boxer said, "I urge in the strongest possible way" the Senate be allowed to continue work on the nomination.

<</SNIP>>

[samdogmom]

1. Yes! These questions on the record will help if there's a recess

appointment!

[JDPriestly]

2. Good work Barbara! Thank you.

[damntexdem]

3. Imagine this scenario: Dubya gives Bolton a recess appointment, ...

then a month or so later, Bolton is indicted for treason.

[Demeter]

7. I Like It! Two Thumbs Up!

What a scenario!

[progressoid]

14. That would be fun!!

[kestrel91316]

28. Sweet.

[LeftNYC]

4. Letter from Biden

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/07/27/biden-did-bolton-testify-in-leak-investigation/


July 27, 2005

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madame Secretary,

I write in connection with the nomination of John R. Bolton to be Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

On July 21, 2005, MSNBC reported that Under Secretary Bolton testified before the federal grand jury in Washington that is investigating the leak of the identity of Valerie Plame as an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency.

I write to request that you or the nominee inform the Committee whether Mr. Bolton did, in fact, appear before the grand jury, or whether he has been interviewed or otherwise asked to provide information by the special prosecutor or his staff in connection with this matter, and if so, when that occurred. As you know, the Committee questionnaire, which the nominee completed in March, requires all nominees to inform the Committee whether they have been “interviewed or asked to supply any information in connection with any administrative (including an inspector general), Congressional or grand jury investigation within the past 5 years, except routine Congressional testimony.”

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Ranking Minority Member

[sabra]

5. thanks for the link.

[Beetwasher]

11. Bolton Signed The Form in March '05, Fitz has Said He Was Pretty Much Done

in '04.

BOLTON LIED ON HIS FORM AND COVERED UP HIS PARTICIPATION THE INVESTIGATION.

[WhiteTara]

6. That's my senator

You go Barbara :yourock:

[mike_c]

8. does anyone REALLY think Bush would nominate Bolton if...

...he were capable of filling out a questionaire and NOT lying?

[clydefrand]

9. Is the following statement correct?

The Senate is expected to start its monthlong recess this weekend. Under a recess appointment, Bolton could serve only until January 2007, when the next Congress convenes.

Shouldn't that be 2006?

[BrotherBuzz]

10. Yes...

When they convene after the recess it's still the same Congress. We get a new Congress in Jan, 2007, after the Nov 2006 election (hopefully, with a few more Democrats).

[Coexist]

12. Oh - great stuff

kudos to Biden on the letter. Let's hope MSNBC was right!

[JanusAscending]

30. Anyone watch Hardball tonight?

I hate to burst everyones "bubble" but Chris Matthews redacted MSNB's statement in re. to Bolton's having been called for testimony. I don't know, but this "SMACKS" of a threat toward MSNBC from the WH!! He came right out and said they were wrong about it!:wtf: He said the word came down from the State Dept.!!!!!

[me b zola]

13. !!

:kick:

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

15. Lying Bastard!

So he lied on his application. And now Shrub is going to casually stick him in there, which will only serve to piss off the democrats and most of the UN.

And to top it all off, it's completely obvious that he probably lied about not being called to appear before a Grand Jury.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. Rice Asked if Bolton Testified in Leak Case

This is the man * wants to make a recess appointment of

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
26 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - A Democratic opponent of John Bolton asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday whether the nominee for U.N. ambassador had testified to a grand jury about the leak of CIA operative's identity.


Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee say they want to determine whether Bolton was truthful when he wrote on a questionnaire for his confirmation hearing that he has not been interviewed in any recent investigations.

In a letter to Rice, Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record), D-Del., referenced an MSNBC report from July 21 that Bolton was among State Department undersecretaries who "gave testimony" about a classified memo that has become an important piece of evidence in the leak investigation.

Biden asked Rice to tell the committee "whether Mr. Bolton did, in fact, appear before the grand jury, or whether he has been interviewed or otherwise asked to provide information by the special prosecutor or his staff in connection with this matter."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050728/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/un_ambassador;_ylt=As3.bEJEcr7C3to7YtesI2Ab.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

[napi21]

17. Why all this letter stuff? Did they loose phone communitcations

in Wash? Conyers is writing letters, now Biden?

I guess he thinks he'll get an answer too, huh?

[EFerrari]

32. Paper trail. Better in court. n/t

[FourStarDemocrat]

18. Rice's answer:

"John Bolton was interviewed by the Special Prosecutor, but this should be seen in a 'historic' context. We do not take it to mean that Mr. Bolton gave testimony under oath, he only provided historic information on possible activities that he may or may not have been involved in".

[Bumblebee]

19. are you serious?!! Or is that a joke

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

20. LOL

That's a joke, right? Not an actual quote.

[Bumblebee]

21. so I am not alone wondering about that... :)

[TahitiNut]

23. It's a parody of her description of the August 2001 PDB.

:shrug:

[Bumblebee]

24. Like uppityperson says

with this administration one never knows! Thanks.

[uppityperson]

22. Is this sarcasm? What with "historic" makes me think so.

Or is it real? Hard to tell with this administration.

[FourStarDemocrat]

33. Yeah, It's a parody, a joke. n/t

[tavalon]

31. Lol!

And Rummy chimed in with, "As you know, you go to Congress with the UN Ambassador you have, not the Ambassador you might want or wish to have at a later time."

Snort!

[Supersedeas]

35. Answer: don't ask me...someone in the bowels of the Admin may know

Psst: I'm only paid to look good.

[journalist3072]

25. They left out her response...

I'm really curious to know what her response is.

[cosmicdot]

26. Boxer serves Rice ...

"Senator, we can have this discussion in any way that you would like," Rice replied. "But I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity." Kindasleazy Rice to Sen. Boxer, Jan. 18, 2005, Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

ball's in your court, Ms. Integrity .... to impugn or not to impugn, that is the question ... the history books await your actions ...

[bufffbison]

27. Rice Asked if Bolton Testified in Leak Case

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050728/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/un_ambassador_5

Rice Asked if Bolton Testified in Leak Case
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A Democratic opponent of John Bolton asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday whether the nominee for U.N. ambassador had testified to a grand jury about the leak of CIA operative's identity.


Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee say they want to determine whether Bolton was truthful when he wrote on a questionnaire for his confirmation hearing that he has not been interviewed in any recent investigations.

In a letter to Rice, Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record), D-Del., referenced an MSNBC report from July 21 that Bolton was among State Department undersecretaries who "gave testimony" about a classified memo that has become an important piece of evidence in the leak investigation.

Biden asked Rice to tell the committee "whether Mr. Bolton did, in fact, appear before the grand jury, or whether he has been interviewed or otherwise asked to provide information by the special prosecutor or his staff in connection with this matter."

[xxxx4]

29. Condyloma Rice looks like Satan's Daughter but isn't as nice

[JNelson6563]

34. Can't access story

Says "due to technical difficulties". Are they flooded or having second thoughts?

*on edit: It's OK now