Bush officials lobbying Obama Justice Department to ‘water down’ torture report.

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/05/lobbying-opr-report/


Bush officials lobbying Obama Justice Department to ‘water down’ torture report.


The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility is expected to release a long-awaited report that will reveal the conduct of senior Bush administration lawyers who authorized torture. Newsweek reported recently that the report is “causing anxiety among former Bush administration officials.” Now, the Washington Post is reporting that Bush officials are lobbying the DOJ to weaken the report’s conclusions:

Former Bush administration officials are lobbying behind the scenes to push Justice Department leaders to water down an ethics report criticizing lawyers who blessed harsh detainee interrogation tactics, according to two sources familiar with the efforts.

In recent days, attorneys for the subjects of the ethics probe have encouraged senior Bush administration appointees to write and phone Justice Department officials, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is not complete.

(HT: Kevin Drum)

Update: NPR says that the DOJ report "will refer former Justice officials to the bar for possible disciplinary action, which means they could be disbarred. But they also suggest that the investigation may stop short of recommending criminal charges."

Related thread:

Bushies Scrambling In Advance Of OPR Report

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5599778&mesg_id=5599778

[LakeSamish706]

1. I hope that Holder tells them to get stuffed! n/t

[Cha]

2. The lawyers

need "to get disbarred".

[margotb822]

3. Actions have consequences

Maybe they should have thought about that before breaking the law. I think the DOJ should give them a steaming hot cup of STFU.

[Supersedeas]

18. apparently, consequences are not a matter of justice...but political intrigue and influence peddling

[Thrill]

4. Meanwhile Reid is too much of a wimp to get Dawn Johnson confirmed

She is the key to all this

[babylonsister]

5. What does his wimpiness have to do with rethug obstruction? nt

[Thrill]

8. Dawn Johnson has already made it through the committee. Its now just up

to him to bring her to the floor for a vote. Can't blame the Repukes for that. Its all on him. There should be a full floor vote. Nothing is stopping that but Reid

[babylonsister]

9. Last I read Grassley was intent on filibustering her and Specter

is also opposed, among others. When did she make it through the committee? Thanks.

[Thrill]

10. The committee vote was back in March.

I've never seen such weak leadership from a Senate leader, Especially one with such a big majority. Threats of a filibusterer? So what. Lets see them do it

[babylonsister]

12. I wonder why the prez doesn't demand this come to a vote?

Maybe they're working behind the scenes and twisting some arms? I don't know. MAkes no sense to me.

[Supersedeas]

6. The process is not complete!! The Report was written, issued and withheld by AG Mukasey

last fall, early winter of last year.

[babylonsister]

7. Different report, I'm thinking...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3862757

(NYT Breaking) Justice Report Opposes Prosecuting Torture-Memo Authors

[Supersedeas]

11. consider this:

http://jonathanturley.org/2009/02/18/mukasey-delayed-torture-report-bar-charges-may-be-brought-against-bush-officials-like-john-yoo/

http://agonist.org/20090216/former_a_g_mukasey_held_up_torture_report

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/02/hbc-90004406

Scott Horton's reporting on this has been spot on.

[babylonsister]

13. So you think this is an old report started during the

Mukasey (mal)admin? I so hope you're right. Then we can throw it out and start over, no?!

[Supersedeas]

16. One of the points discussed emphasized on KO last night was that the DoJ was investigating

itself.

And even their results were too much for Mukasey to release.

[Senator]

14. The criminal charges recommend themselves.

But go back to bed America. It was all bad lawyering and policy differences.

And we need torturers polluting the ranks of our intelligence agencies because ... well, people we actually know might be publicly embarrassed, or lose their pensions, or even have to go to country club prison. It would be a "mushroom cloud" of beltway discomfort.

So, go back to bed America.

--

[SeattleGirl]

15. Hey, Bush "officials"! How would you like that watering down to

be along the same lines as what Bull Connor did?

Or similar to waterboarding?

If you're willing to consider THAT kind of "watering down", then I'd be willing to consider letting the report be watered down.

Deal?

:shrug:

[AtomicKitten]

17. This report was four years in the making, done before Obama was even sworn in in January.

It "recommends" disbarment but not prosecution, but I thought that would be determined by the criminal division of the Justice Department.

I was relieved when Michael Isikoff said last night that this isn't over by a long shot and that criminal prosecutions are indeed still being considered on a number of charges. I sure hope so.