Conservative pundit: Leaning on prosecutors for favors should be allowed

[meegbear]

Politicians should be allowed to call federal prosecutors and question them about ongoing cases, says Weekly Standard co-founder Fred Barnes.

Referring to phone calls made by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) to US Attorney David Iglesias prior to his firing, Barnes told host Brit Hume on Fox News Special Report, "I don't think there's anything wrong with these phone calls that were made."

They called Iglesias "and asked if what was an indictment of a former Democratic official was going to happen before election day," he continues. "Well now, that seems perfectly okay to me, if they do that."

The fact that Iglesias was fired shortly after the phone calls in question is not brought up by anyone on the Fox News panel.

Fellow panelist Mara Liasson of NPR later concedes, "Ethics experts down the line say that elected officials are not supposed to inquire about ongoing cases."

"Why?" exclaims Barnes in reply. "That's nonsense! Total nonsense!"

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Fox_GOP_leaning_on_prosecutors_for_0308.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. And the police should be able to knock down your door

throw you in jail and forget about you. Fred would love that.

[pepperbear]

2. I like that it's a special report...THIS JUST IN: GOP can do whatever they want...

as long as it costs a dem dearly.

film at 11.