Update: Sensenbrenner's attack against Fitzgerald

[LiviaOlivia]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0507260172jul26,1,2834106.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Congress aide becomes casualty of controversy
Panel's attorney exits after lawmaker's bid to alter drug sentence
By Sam Singer
Washington Bureau
July 26, 2005

WASHINGTON -- With Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) facing criticism and ethics questions for pressuring a federal appellate court to increase a defendant's sentence, a congressional aide closely tied to the controversy has been dismissed.

~snip~

Sensenbrenner could face a complaint before the House ethics committee, because House rules prohibit communicating privately with judges on legal matters. In addition, general rules of litigation prohibit contacting judges on a case without notifying all parties, which Sensenbrenner did not do.

The American Judicature Society, a non-partisan group that works for judicial independence, criticized Sensenbrenner after the letter became public for "attempting to bully federal judges."

~snip~

Sensenbrenner's June 23 letter demanded a "prompt response" from Joel Flaum, chief judge of the 7th Circuit, as to what Flaum would do to "rectify" the actions of a three-judge panel that upheld an 8-year, 1-month sentence for Rivera, even though federal law called for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

~snip~

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read Digby's
"Push Back"
07-10-2005
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2005_07_10_digbysblog_archive.html#112102002815321863

Sensenbrenner also wrote a letter to Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales, demanding that the decision be appealed further and that he investigate why the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago did not appeal Rivera's sentence.

Bryan Sierra, a spokesman for the Justice Department, said Sensenbrenner's letter was being reviewed. Randall Samborn, a spokesman for U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, declined to comment.



This is about Patrick Fitzgerald. If he's got the full force of the GOP machine on his back, let's hope he believes in the Chicago Way.

~snip~

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Friends, read up on this incident. Thx, Liv.

Suggested reading: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/7/26/102913/440

[ncteechur]

1. Sensenbrenner needs a friggin' lobotomy. He is insane.

[Dr.Phool]

6. I think he's already had one

And they botched the job!

[marmar]

2. It's called karma...

Isn't this the pig who cut off the Dems and their witnesses at a Congressional hearing earlier this year? In the end, the universe balances and the assholes end up getting what's coming to them.

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, same guy, and the hearing was about the Patriot

Act.

[stillcool]

3. the just rewards can't come quick enough...

for this lot. I hope they all find themselves with plenty of time to contemplate on the consequences of their actions.

[Supersedeas]

4. Sens has ethical issues....no way!!!

[McCamy Taylor]

7. He needs to shoot some watermelons

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. Does Dan Burton give private lessons?

[Poiuyt]

9. Is Sensenbrenner taking over for Delay as the most outrageous man

in all of Congress?

[cyberpj]

10. WHAT House Ethics Committee? nt.

[Independent_Liberal]

11. Yep, that's Senselessbrenner alright!

:)

[Pithy Cherub]

12. senseless missed that ex parte section in law school...

Good grief, he goes from atrocious to abysmal R congress critter without even wrecking his combover! :freak: