Biden steps up pressure for special counsel

[jillan]

Go get those lying bastards Joe!!

http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=112692

Waterloo, IA (December 10, 2007) – In Iowa today, former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Joe Biden stepped up pressure on the Justice Department to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate the scandal surrounding the destruction of tapes showing interrogations by the CIA:

“Today I am reiterating my call for the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the Bush Administration’s latest potentially illegal action. I do not take this call for a Special Counsel lightly. I wish that this White House had enough integrity to police themselves but they have shown that they do not. This is an unfortunate trend and one that I will end immediately as President.

“For one, Attorney General Mukasey demonstrated during his confirmation hearing that he is unable to impartially enforce U.S. laws with regard to torture.

“Second, this investigation may implicate White House officials. Some press reports indicate that Deputy White House Chief of Staff Harriet Miers and CIA Director Porter Goss were involved in the process of determining whether or not the tapes should be preserved. In addition, there is a possibility that the President may also have been involved, as the White House Press Secretary noted only that the President had ‘no recollection’ of the decision-making process surrounding the destruction of the tapes. The tapes also reportedly show evidence of potentially illegal interrogation programs that the Administration has advocated.

“Finally, the White House has made previous attempts to politicize the work of the Justice Department, including the hiring and firing of US Attorneys, and the appointment of a Special Counsel would ensure prosecutorial independence.”

[Steely_Dan]

1. Keep Up The Pressure, Joe

We're counting on you. While this should have been done a long time ago, I'm proud that you are hitting them hard now!

Thanks, Joe.

-Paige

[jillan]

2. And why is Rockefeller trying to stop him??

[tekisui]

4. He must not want a SP to find out what the Justice Dept/CIA wouldn't.

[jillan]

6. I wonder what he is trying to hide?

I don't know what to think about Rockefeller. This isn't the first time he has made me wonder wtf his problem is...

[tekisui]

8. I can only guess: what he knew and when he knew it.

And what he didn't do about it.

He may not have anything to hide or worry about, but he doesn't act like it. Biden doesn't have anything to hide, he says let's get to the bottom of this.

[ginchinchili]

13. Once again, Joe is right.

We can't keep letting this stuff slide. At some point someone's got to put their foot down hard. Looks like Sen. Biden is that someone. God bless him.

[jillan]

15. How many times a week does someone say that?

Joe IS right - again :)------------------------------>

[tekisui]

3. This is absolutely necessary.

The Justice Dept. always denied these tapes existed.

[gateley]

5. Tonight, KO cited Hagel and others saying an independent counsel wasn't

needed at this time. KO asked, "if not now, when?" Jonathan Turley agreed. As far as I know, Biden's is the lone voice calling for this -- he needs help so I hope others rally 'round.

[jillan]

7. It's curious, isn't it?

Well at least Keith and Turley get it.

geez!!

[TwilightGardener]

10. Rockefeller and Hagel are both on the Intel Committee--I wonder if

they want to get some information first about what happened, before they call for an independent counsel? Either that or they're trying to protect themsleves from stuff leaking out about what they knew and when they knew it.

[jillan]

16. I'm wondering if they have something to hide.

This is too Nixonian for anyone to try and stop.

[1corona4u]

17. Well of course they do...

[TwilightGardener]

18. Jay definitely does--he was a part of the gang of four--he knows

all about the waterboarding. Kind of makes him look bad to say, "Oh, torture's wrong, we shouldn't do it", and meanwhile he knew it was taking place illegally in 2002.

[jillan]

19. And he publicly flip-flopped on when he knew about this.

Unbelievable!!!

[L. Coyote]

9. Don't miss the analysis presented by Scott Horton

What Difference Would It Make?
http://harpers.org/archive/2007/12/hbc-90001892

The Department of Justice and the CIA are undertaking a “preliminary investigation” to determine whether a more formal probe of the destruction of the two tapes is appropriate. The effort on the Justice side is entrusted to Kenneth L. Wainstein, the assistant attorney general responsible for counterterrorism efforts, who is coordinating with the CIA’s Inspector General, John L. Helgerson, on the probe.

The major issues that need to addressed are internal to the CIA and the Justice Department. Both made false official statements to a federal court in Virginia as well as to the American public. The question is how deep the deception ran, who masterminded it, and what purposes it served. And neither the public nor Congress should accept an answer from Mr. Wainstein or Mr. Helgerson, because both are far too close to the issues which need to be scrutinized. As Senator Biden already noted, this is a matter which can only be managed by a special prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Mukasey.

Justice Department lawyers involved in the case of Zacarias Moussaoui have been very quick to insist that the disclosures are “irrelevant” because Moussaoui pleaded guilty. The Justice Department lawyers handling these cases have a long track record of hyperventilation and lack of candor dealing with the courts and the public. .................

[gateley]

12. Thanks for this link! nt

[rucky]

11. Can't we just make him President already? n/t

[1corona4u]

14. Hi Rucky...

did you go to the head count page yet?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3813756

[murbley40]

20. I wish!!

[murbley40]

21. Kick

[PatSeg]

22. Double kick - this is an important story!