Conyers admits Justice Dept. whistleblower website was 'premature' after GOP complaints

[rodeodance]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Conyers_admits_Justice_Dept._whistleblower_website_0622.html

Conyers admits Justice Dept. whistleblower website was 'premature' after GOP complaints
Michael Roston
Published: Friday June 22, 2007

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Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) altered the content of a website launched Wednesday to securely elicit reports of politicization of prosecutions from Justice Department staff. The move came in response to complaints issued by his Republican counterparts on the House Judiciary Committee that the whistleblowers website was set up in violation of Congressional rules.

"In an ongoing effort to create a sideshow and a distraction from these serious matters, some have raised allegations about a webpage that was designed to give Department whistleblowers a mechanism to securely communicate with the Committee," Conyers, the Judiciary Committee's Chairman, said in a statement late on Thursday. "The webpage was launched prematurely, but the content of it represented a good faith interpretation of House rules. Within three hours of learning about a different interpretation of the Rules and to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, the website was edited - removing one word - and is now, under any interpretation, in full compliance with the rules."

Rep. Conyers ordered the replacement from the website of a statement that "Communications will be received and reviewed by a select group of members of the majority staff of the Judiciary Committee." Now, the webpage states that the committee staff generally will receive the information, implying that both Democratic and Republican staff will be privy to the whistleblowers' complaints.

"We are glad the majority responded to Congressman Smith's concerns, and the congressman feels they are good first steps," Beth McGinn, a spokeswoman for Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the Ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, told RAW STORY Friday morning. She did not say what additional steps the Republicans on the committee were hoping for.

[freeplessinseattle]

1. Nice to see the Repugs caring about the rules for a change

now if they could only get equally up in arms about other rules...

[bain_sidhe]

2. Oh, that'll bring 'em out in droves...

"implying that both Democratic and Republican staff will be privy to the whistleblowers' complaints."

Not.