Senior Federal Prosecutors and F.B.I. Officials Fault Ashcroft Over Leak I

[Whoa_Nelly]

Senior Federal Prosecutors and F.B.I. Officials Fault Ashcroft Over Leak Inquiry

By DAVID JOHNSTON and ERIC LICHTBLAU

Published: October 16, 2003


WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 — Several senior criminal prosecutors at the Justice Department and top F.B.I. officials have privately criticized Attorney General John Ashcroft for failing to recuse himself or appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the leak of a C.I.A. operative's identity.

The criticism reflects the first sign of dissension in the department and the F.B.I. as the inquiry nears a critical phase. The attorney general must decide whether to convene a grand jury, which could compel White House officials to testify.

The criminal justice officials, who spoke on the condition that they not be identified, represent a cross section of experienced criminal prosecutors and include political supporters of Mr. Ashcroft at the department's headquarters here and at United States attorneys' offices around the country.

The officials said they feared Mr. Ashcroft could be damaged by continuing accusations that as an attorney general with a long career in Republican partisan politics, he could not credibly lead a criminal investigation that centered on the aides to a Republican president.

more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/politics/16LEAK.html?ex=1066881600&en=277308137d5d28b2&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[Hieronymus]

1. Hot damn

This is the best news I've heard in a while.
This cabal is going down.:toast:

[kimchi]

2. and this tidbit also:

Several alternative approaches have been suggested both inside and outside the Justice Department, the officials said. In one approach, Mr. Ashcroft would recuse himself from the case once James B. Comey, the federal prosecutor in Manhattan, took over as deputy attorney general in either an acting or permanent basis.

Mr. Bush said earlier this month that he intended to appoint Mr. Comey as deputy attorney general. Mr. Comey brings established prosecutorial credentials to the job.

Sounds crazy, but "earlier this month" he knew about the leak, because I knew about it. Getting those ducks lined up, Georgie? Well it won't work. Your goose is cooked.

[hedda_foil]

3. YES! The career prosecutors strike back!

Could it be that the good guys in the FBI and Justice Dept lawyers will join those in the CIA to take this whole cabal of evil mutherf*ckers down?

[TacticalPeek]

4. Snidely Whiplash.

"Ashley Snee, a spokesman for Mr. Gonzales, said he believed the delay was acceptable because no one in the White House had any idea there was an investigation."

I will love the day when the details are revealed, under oath and penalty.


:)

[Klapaucius]

10. To be honest...

While I fervently hope that there are some repercussions, if not outright criminal charges, I truly think that there is going to be a way for Shrub to slime his way out of it. That being said, given the propensity to lie to the public, do you think it's going to bother them one bit to lie under oath, especially when they think that they can control the spin and cover the evidence?

They're going to stake someone out, and smear them with honey. I just don't think it's going to be Shrub or the Invisible Man.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. I have been thinking the same things

eom

[Southpaw Bookworm]

14. My thoughts too

Each time there's a new scandal (and there have been so many), we all think that this is going to be it, this time the Bushistas are going down. But each time they manage to worm their way out: pre-9/11 intelligence failures, DeIulio's comments on party politics and policy in the White House, the lying about Iraq, the ties between Halliburton and our invasions, Cheney not turning over the energy advisors list, etc., and into infinity.

I'm terrified that they'll keep on getting away with it until they've completely reformed this country and the government to its evil ideals.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Southpaw Bookworm!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[proud patriot]

5. Good

:bounce:

[Unknown Known]

6. Those damned "career professionals"

How dare they insult the Almighty Asscrack!

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Talk is cheap

Are they actually going to DO something about it???

[Oilwellian]

8. Doing....

the moonwalk. :D

[MidwestTransplant]

9. I'd rather see the Frog March!!

or Perp Walk

[Rose Siding]

12. This is the funniest thing I've ever seen

"Ashley Snee, a spokesman for Mr. Gonzales, said he believed the delay was acceptable because no one in the White House had any idea there was an investigation. But The New York Times and The Washington Post had reported the day before that the C.I.A. had forwarded the matter to the Justice Department for possible investigation."

NO ONE at the WH reads the papers! :D

[lovedems]

13. I don't know how Asscroft is going to get by on this one, his own

department is turning against him. This is good, everyone in D.C. is starting to turn on each other. This is good, the great uniter is causing division in his own party.