Waas: House Republicans beat back Plame resolution of inquiry

[paineinthearse]

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/2005/09/house-republicans-beat-back-plame.html

House Republicans beat back Plame resolution of inquiry

Not too surprisingly, Republicans today beat back formal "resolutions of inquiry" by Democrats on the House Judiciary and House International Relations Committees that would have required the Bush administration to turn over to Congress information and records relating to the outing of CIA officer Valerie Plame. Votes in both committees were along party lines. The House Judiciary Committee voted 15-11 to adversely report H. Res. 420 to open a formal congressional inquiry into the Plame affair. The House International Relations Committee voted 26-21 against the resolution of inquiry. The House Intelligence Committee is to scheduled to hold a vote tomorrow in a closed door session. But it appears doubtful that any Republican on that committee will vote to open an inquiry either.

Republicans argued today that any vote in favor of the resolution might impair the ongoing federal grand jury probe by special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald. Democrats pointed out that Congress engaged in its own extensive formal investigations of Watergate and Whitewater while special prosecutors conducted criminal inquiries. Rep. John Conyers, of Michigan, the ranking Democrat, and former chairman, of the Judiciary committee made just that point during the debate today, telling his colleagues: "Let us not forget the endless hearings in this Committee and others on alleged Clinton-Gore campaign finance violations, the Whitewater claims, and Clinton White House Travel Office firings. These were matters all under Justice Department review at the time of our hearings. Finally, I must remind my colleagues of the numerous House and Senate hearings on Watergate that were simultaneous with the Justice Department's own investigation."

The House Armed Services Committee will be the fourth congressional committee to consider the matter. Their vote is scheduled for Sept. 20. But it's similarly unlikely that any Republicans will break ranks and vote for an inquiry. Interestingly, the House Intelligence Committee is going to meet in closed session tomorrow for its consideration of the resolution of inquiry, as well as for the vote itself. Since there is no classified information to consider (the committee has received no classified briefings from the Bush administration or Fitzgerald regarding Plame), Democrats are privately charging that Republicans are conducting the session in secret to diminish press attention. With Katrina, the Roberts confirmation hearings (and the hearings' jaw dropping disclosures-- Roberts has told the Senators which are his favorite movies, and that he favors the Windsor knot while tying his tie!), and Brittany Spears having given birth, the closing of the session appears to be overkill.

A senior Democratic aide told me tonight, regarding the closing of the House Intelligence Committee hearing: "That they are going to do the mark up in a closed session just reflects that this is another effort to bury this thing." A spokesman for the Republican majority did not return a phone call tonight, but if he does, I will update my post with his comments at that time. (Additionally, if any committee Republican comments for the record anywhere, I will update this post with their comments as well.)

more.....

Related: John Conyers on 4 House committee hearings tomorrow (3 will be steamed live). See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2090692&mesg_id=2090692

[fooj]

1. Those fucking Republicans should be prosecuted for

throwing our country under the bus!

The bottom line is - what is wrong is wrong! Period. No getting around it! I am so sick of their sanctimonious BULLSHIT...lying rat bastards can rot in hell as far as I am concerned. They have put every American in jeopardy by their divisive, partisan BS and I've had just about enough. They (all repubs) must shoulder the responsibility of sitting back, DOING NOTHING, and silently watching as their party sells out to the imposters that run OUR HOUSE!!! They are not fit to call themselves Americans, IMO. This isn't just about the politicians in DC, either. This is about Americans who have aided and abetted these evil, maniacal monsters and I don't believe that their participation in all of this madness should bear no consequence. Actions have consequences. Every spineless repub in this country owns this bullshit. That's right. OWNERSHIP. THEY OWN THIS EVIL.

Peace.

[paineinthearse]

2. Amen, brother!

Hey GEN, isn't this post "sensational" enough?

Wass is a brilliant political stratagest, what are your thoughts?!

[paineinthearse]

3. 3rd committee beats down DSM hearnings

http://whateveralready.blogspot.com/

House Intelligence committee votes down Plame "resolution of inquiry"

The House Intelligence Committee earlier today became the third congressional committee to derail a "resolution of inquiry"that would have required the Bush administration to turn over to Congress sensitive information and records relating to the outing of CIA officer Valerie Plame. The 11-9 vote by the committee earlier today to adversely report H. Res. 418 follows similar votes yesterday (see post immediately below) by the House Judiciary and House International Relations Committee.

Had the resolutions of inquiry been adopted, they would have lead to the first independent congressional inquiries of the Plame affair, and perhaps even the public testimony of senior Bush administration aides, such as Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff, and I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, about their personal roles. Republicans argued that any vote in favor of the resolution might impair the ongoing federal grand jury probe by special prosecutor Fitzgerald. In the case of the House Intelligence Committee, they were aided, when at the very last minute, the Justice Department informed the committee that Fitzgerald himself opposed any independent inquiry at this time by Congress.

In a letter to the committee, dated Sept. 14, William E. Moschella, an assistant Attorney General for legislative affairs, wrote: "Mr. Fitzgerald has advised that production at this time of the documents responsive to H. Res.418 and the other resolutions, and any attendant hearings, would interfere with his investigation. According, we request that the committee report adversely H. Res. 418." Democrats, however, pointed out that Congress engaged in its own extensive formal investigations of Watergate and Whitewater while special prosecutors conducted criminal inquiries.

Rep. John Conyers, of Michigan, the ranking Democrat, and former chairman, of the Judiciary committee made just that point during the debate, telling his colleagues: "Let us not forget the endless hearings in this Committee and others on alleged Clinton-Gore campaign finance violations, the Whitewater claims, and Clinton White House Travel Office firings. These were matters all under Justice Department review at the time of our hearings. Finally, I must remind my colleagues of the numerous House and Senate hearings on Watergate that were simultaneous with the Justice Department's own investigation."

more......

[faithnotgreed]

4. hi paine - did you see posting on dailykos about this

interesting post about fitzgerald advising congress not to hold plame hearings
because it could interfere with his investigation/rulings

also speculation that conyers knew there wasnt support for investigation so repubs are on record as being against inquiry

hmmm

[paineinthearse]

6. No, I didn't see kos

Please provide link(s).

See the John Conyers group for links to related posts in DU (generally in GDP).

[faithnotgreed]

7. link away

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/15/223428/862

[paineinthearse]

9. Thank you. nt

[oasis]

5. Throw the bums out in 2006. (eom)

[geomon666]

8. Why do the Dems even bother showing up?

Just let them have it. There's nothing they can do and even when they can do something, they choose not to. So don't show up anymore.

[cantstandbush]

10. I think it might be better if these documents were not released.

It may harm Fitz's case which should be ready for some indictments within weeks.