The fair application of the law is the cornerstone of American justice and American democracy.Editorial
The Work Remaining
Published: December 26, 2007
It has been nearly a year since the United States attorneys scandal broke, and much has changed. Many people at the center of the scandal have fled Washington, and new laws and rules have been put in place making it harder to use prosecutors’ offices to win elections.
Much, however, remains to be done, starting with a full investigation into the misconduct that may have occurred — something the American people have been denied.
............
Reforms were instituted. Congress passed a law taking back the power it had unwisely given the president to appoint United States attorneys without Senate confirmation. That should make it harder for future presidents to put political operatives in these sensitive posts. More recently, Attorney General Mukasey issued new guidelines restricting contacts between the Justice Department and
the White House, which appears to have been the conduit for the orders to politicize prosecutions. These changes are important, but are not enough. Congress must hear from all of the major participants. The House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold Joshua Bolten, the White House chief of staff, and Ms. Miers in contempt for ignoring Congressional subpoenas. The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to do the same for Mr. Bolten and Mr. Rove.
The full House and Senate should affirm those votes and refer the witnesses for prosecution if they still will not cooperate. The attorney general also must do more. There is evidence of impropriety in several recent prosecutions,
including that of Don Siegelman, a former governor of Alabama who is serving a lengthy prison sentence. Mr. Mukasey needs to investigate Mr. Siegelman's case and others that have been called into question to ensure that no one was wrongly put in jail by his department, and that anyone who acted improperly is held accountable..........
more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/opinion/26wed1.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
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