Mark Kleiman: Subpoenas in Fired U.S. Attorney Probe (HuffPost)

[marmar]

Subpoenas in Fired U.S. Attorney Probe (33 comments )

Linda Sanchez's subcommittee of House Judiciary has issued subpoenas for four of the eight U.S. Attorneys fired by the Bush Administration, including Carol Lam, whose office nailed Duke Cunningham and has now indicted the former #3 at the CIA in what seems to be a huge national-security corruption scandal. It looks as if the four are willing to tell their stories, but only if they are compelled to do so.

(It might be interesting to ask them who asked them to keep silent.)

The Republicans on Sanchez's subcommittee boycotted the meeting where the subpoenas were voted on. Nice of them to help make this a partisan issue, isn't it?

The Deputy AG is already on record before Congress as saying the firings weren't for political reasons. Sounds as if the victims are going to say otherwise, with documents to back them up.

I've heard two lines of analysis about this case:

1. The Administration's need to tamp down the enthusiasm among the U.S. Attorneys for corruption cases, and to disrupt the specific cases the fired U.S. Attorneys were working, must have been overwhelming. The coming firestorm was predictable; they must have thought the alternative was even worse.

2. Naaahhh, they're just such a bunch of arrogant jerks it never occurred to them there was some stuff they couldn't get away with anymore.

On current evidence, I can't judge the plausibility of either one. I also can't think of a third. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-kleiman/subpoenas-in-fired-us-a_b_42422.html

[marmar]

1. Sometimes you kick.....

Sometimes you get kicked. (Thank you INXS) :kick:

[lyonn]

3. The fact that subpoenas are going out is worth another kick.

Your post is such an important one.

[lyonn]

2. Mark Kleiman has some serious credentials

His educated opinion on what is happening with our corrupt Attorney General is credible. It looks like Alberto could get himself and those at the top of this admin. in deep trouble. I keep thinking impeachment.... Hummmm. Or, better yet, bush pull an honorable stunt like Nixon and just say "I'm no crook" and Leave on his own. After all, bush can't think and he follows directions really well and there are many that would not want to go before congress and tell all their lies again only with the Dems in control. The thought just thrills me!!

[marmar]

8. Yes he does....

and the thought thrills me too!

[lyonn]

4. Marmar, are we the only ones that think this is an important story?

Another kick just in case you are right.

[marmar]

5. I get a kick out of your kicks, lyonn....

:)

[TahitiNut]

6. I trust that trained attorneys keep good "Pearl Harbor files."

It should be very interesting to see the evidence they've accumulated for just such an eventuality. Folks without legal training and experience often take it in the ear because they don't collect the documents and make diligent contemporaneous notes to file. Let's see what these people kept. It should be good.

[lyonn]

7. Excellent point - good records. nt

[John Q. Citizen]

9. This case is so clearly an abuse of power that it may have legs.

It made record time from reporting to subpoena.

[hootinholler]

10. I think 2...

After all, nothing happened when they got rid of the prosecutor in the Marianas for Jack Abramoff.

-Hoot