Outing a CIA operative? Rules call for special counsel

[Octafish]

US Rep John Conyers (D-Detroit) writes US AG John Aschkroft is required to appoint a special prosecutor in Traitor-gate. Even though the special prosecutor law expired, John Conyers says the law still requires the appointment of a special prosecutor in certain cases. In a column he wrote for The Detroit Free Press, this REAL Democrat has a LOT to say about Traitor-gate and many things Bush:

Outing a CIA operative? Rules call for special counsel

BY JOHN CONYERS JR.

October 3, 2003

Sorely missing in the myriad of public debate concerning the need for a special counsel to investigate the leaked name of a CIA operative is one simple fact: It's required by the law.

Although the independent counsel law expired in 1999, the Justice Department promulgated regulations that require the appointment of a special counsel under specified circumstances. Under the regulations, the attorney general is required to appoint a special counsel when (1) a "criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted," (2) the investigation "would present a conflict of interest for the Department" and (3) "it would be in the public interest to appoint an outside special counsel to assume responsibility."

All three factors are present here.

SNIP…

When it comes to ethics, this is an administration that has gone to extremes to avoid independent scrutiny. Whether it is investigating the president's good friend Ken Lay or former Army Secretary Thomas White in the Enron scandal, Vice President Dick Cheney in the Halliburton case or the involvement of top Republican legislators in trading campaign contributions for legislative favors on behalf of Westar, Attorney General Ashcroft has not seen fit to open a single independent investigation.

CONTINUED…

http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/econyer3_20031003.htm

[dweller]

1. this article

should be printed in bulk, and posted on every bboard in sight.

superb find, O'fish,
:thumbsup:
dp

[Loyal]

4. Great find

:kick:

[Octafish]

11. Knowledge is power.

"And power is everybody's business." — The Firesign Theatre

Edit: The words.

[whathappened]

2. like i said to a reply

on another post , jr. and his gang has gotten away with murder the whole time he has been in office , holy john will set on this and make a few moves to make it look like something is being done and we all no what it is he is doing

[bearfan454]

3. Not if we MAKE him do something

You know they will try and cover this shit up. We CANNOT let them.

[BQueen]

5. If Ashcroft refuses, and Shrub won't ask...

It may be possible to force through a mandamus action in the courts (although it would probably go to DC Circuit and eventually the Felonious Five would get hold of it. Maybe Sandy would take the opportunity to salvage some shred of dignity for the legacy of the first female on the Court...)

I love Conyers. He wouldn't plump for impeachment before, since he could see there was wiggle-room. He's not leaving any in this argument and it's obvious what he's putting his evidence/procedures in place for. You have to plug every hole before cornering these weasels.

Go Conyers! To the mattresses!

[Octafish]

10. To the mattresses! Conyers supports impeaching the bums!

He spoke before a group of DEMs and Green-types at University of Detroit-Mercy back in March or so. The keynote speaker was a guy whose group has written up articles of impeachment and gotten millions of signators nationwide. His group is planning an enormous march on Washington for Summer 2004. Hope we have a grand jury going way before then. If not, the mob-mentality approach might work.

[UpInArms]

6. this merely points out that there is a complete lack of

checks and balances within our government -

the pukes have the courts
the pukes have the Senate
the pukes have the Congress
the pukes have the WH
the pukes have the broadcast media

we are so f***ed

[Octafish]

8. True, UpInArms! We've only got one thing.

We the People got the VOTE. And an informed electorate will make the correct decision. Let's give the entire Bush Organized Crime Family the what's for! They've deserved it since November 22, 1963, at least, 1934, most likely.

[sduncang]

7. Good article...Thanks

I agree...this is a "must read".

[Octafish]

9. You're welcome! Conyers has been on the case since 1964.

The guy's a real Democrat. I've had the good fortune to hear him speak a couple of times. He talks quietly, but he opens up the crowds' ears pretty darn fast.

BTW: A hearty welcome to DU, sduncang! Keep giving the Bush Organized Crime Family the what's for!