Most favor investigations into controversial terror techniques, possible abuse of Justice Dept.

[BlueJessamine]

Most favor investigations into controversial terror techniques, possible abuse of Justice Dept.

GALLUP

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- Earlier this week, Sen. Patrick Leahy called for a special commission to investigate possible government wrongdoing by the Bush administration in its anti-terror policies, as well as possible attempts to politicize the Justice Department through the firing of U.S. attorneys who were viewed as potentially disloyal to the administration. While Americans appear to support some kind of investigation into these matters, no more than 41% favor criminal probes.

These results are based on a Jan. 30-Feb. 1 USA Today/Gallup poll. In addition to Leahy's recent call for a "truth commission" that would investigate but not prosecute Bush administration officials, a House committee led by Rep. John Conyers is awaiting responses to subpoenas of former Bush administration officials regarding Bush-era policies and actions.

For each of three controversial actions or policies of the Bush administration, survey respondents were asked whether there should be a criminal investigation by the Justice Department or an investigation by an independent panel that would issue a report of findings but not seek any criminal charges, or whether neither should be done.

While no more than 41% of Americans favor a criminal investigation into any of the matters, at least 6 in 10 say there should be either a criminal investigation or an independent probe into all three. This includes 62% who favor some type of investigation into the possible use of torture when interrogating terrorism suspects, 63% who do so with respect to the possible use of telephone wiretaps without obtaining a warrant, and 71% who support investigating possible attempts to use the Justice Department for political purposes.

So far, President Obama has been reluctant to pursue such investigations, but Leahy and Conyers in particular are calling for an accounting of what happened on Bush's watch.

Perhaps not unexpectedly, a majority of Democratic identifiers favor a criminal probe into all three matters -- including 54% who do so with respect to warrantless wiretaps, 51% for the possible use of torture, and 52% for the firing of U.S. attorneys.

In contrast, Republicans are most likely to oppose any type of investigation, including a majority who say so in regard to the possible use of torture (54%) and warrantless wiretaps (56%). Republicans are more receptive to an investigation into possible efforts to politicize the Justice Department, with 24% favoring a criminal probe and 28% in favor of an independent panel report. Still, the greatest number (43%) of Republicans think there should be no investigation into the Justice Department matter.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/114580/No-Mandate-Criminal-Probes-Bush-Administration.aspx

[midnight]

1. Get a spot light, and start searching for these acts of terror, and

wrong doing and get it out of our judicial system.

[pmorlan1]

2. More Americans Choose Criminal Prosecutions

According to the chart in the USA today paper the Gallup poll showed:

38% favor criminal investigation
24% favor independent panel
34% neither
3% no opinion

So looks like there are more people who want a criminal investigation than either of the other two options - doing nothing (Bush supporters) or investigate but don't prosecute (split the difference people). I guess those in the 24% now need to decide if they want criminal prosecutions or nothing. I hope they start advocating for criminal prosecutions.