Leahy calls for vote on Wiretap policy subpoena

[Perky]

From Politico.com

Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on authorizing subpoenas of NSA eavesdropping program


The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a business meeting for Thursday to authorize subpoenas as part of the panel's investigation into the NSA eavesdropping program.

Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) have repeatedly asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to turn over any legal opinions and advice the Bush administration has supporting the NSA's warrantless eavesdropping program, which President Bush and other administration officials have called the "Terrorist Surveillance Program."



Gonzales has repeatedly rebuffed those requests, including a May 21 letter to the attorney general from Leahy and Specter. Leahy has recently threatened to take further action to obtain access to the information.

Now, Leahy has scheduled a vote for Thursday to authorize him to subpoena the documents following consultations with Specter. Under Judiciary Committee rules, Republicans can postpone the vote on the subpoena authorizations for a week, but Democratic insiders don't expect Leahy will have any problem gaining approval for the subpoenas at that time.

Leahy's decision to seek subpoena authority signals a dramatic escalation of the fight between Capitol Hill and the White House over the NSA eavesdropping effort, and was spurred by recent testimony by former Deputy Attorney General James Comey that Gonzales and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card attempted to persuade ex-Attorney General John Ashcroft to reauthorize the program while hospitalized in early 2004. The effort led to a showdown between the White House and the Justice Dept., and Comey and other senior DOJ officials threatened to resign over the matter. Bush had to personally intervene in the dispute before it was resolved and the eavesdropping program reauthorized.

[Perky]

1. Note to Conyers.

He does not comply Impeach his sorry ass.

[hang a left]

2. Now we are moving to the show down.

This is where the rubber meets the road folks.

Will Justice comply? Not likely.

Don't blink. I want to see the JC go to the mat on this one. It is here we will FINALLY realize and confirm where we stand.

Executive President or a nation of laws not men.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Good idea. A specific vote about a specific problem. nt

[KansDem]

4. Thursday will be a busy day...

Judge Walton will render his decision on Scooter and this...

Any other goodies set for Thursday?

[williesgirl]

5. Good news, but the cabal will ignore the subpoena too. recommended

[Beelzebud]

6. Get ready for another round of stern warnings and statements of disapproval.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

7. IF THEY DON'T COMPLY, PUT THEM IN 'CUFFS

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE IN A RAGE AT THIS RUN-AWAY TRAIN.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. More white noise.

I've ceased to be impressed by the magic word "subpoena". It's proven to be a spell without power.

[firefox_fan]

9. I agree...

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. No kidding.

Subpoena? Yawn!

[here_is_to_hope]

11. Wee...another useless vote, another round

of useless subpoena's...yawn.

[truebrit71]

12. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Wake me when ONE of these useless fucks actually DOES something...

...to bring the BFEE to account...

Thanks, until then I'll be over here smacking my head against a wall hoping for a different result each time...

[Horse with no Name]

13. So we get a vote on it

Then what?

[truebrit71]

14. A clumsy back-down and an apology to the WH and the Chimperor...

...you know, the usual stuff from the "majority" party...