DOJ to Oversight Committee on Subpoenas: DENIED

[babylonsister]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/doj_to_oversight_denied.php

DOJ to Oversight: DENIED
By kklonick - June 30, 2008, 12:36PM


Two weeks ago, Chairman Henry Waxman (R-CA) of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued subpoenas for FBI paperwork regarding interviews with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.

And now the Justice Department has responded: Think again, Henry.

In the latest subpoena denial from the administration, Attorney General Mukasey informed the Committee that it will not be issuing documents to comply with the congressionally issued subpoena.

But Waxman is giving them one last chance. In a letter to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald on Friday, he informed Fitzgerald that the DOJ has until July 3rd to release the requested documents.

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Another strongly worded letter..

It doesn't surprise me about Mukasey ignoring the Constitution and having Contempt of Congress.
I expect nothing to come of this without using Inherent Contempt. SAD

[L. Coyote]

2. Failure to comply with a Congressional subpoena is a crime. Simple enough even for a lawyer!!

Except in a police state, of course, where one party is above the law.

[bdamomma]

3. just arrest the bastards please

send the Sargent at Arms, these thugs do not play by the rules.

[tbyg52]

8. Inherent contempt

The executive branch is completely out of control. They are sticking their fingers in their ears and going "nya, nya, nya."

[bdamomma]

13. they are sticking their fingers in our eyes, our words do not

mean anything to these thugs, sorry but it doesn't work like that.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Umm a fight between the Sargent at Arms and the FBI wouldn't be much of a fight

[99th_Monkey]

4. Refusing Congressional subpoenas is an impeachable offense

and is also a slap in the face to the entire institution of Congress. Some on the hill feel this has the
best chance of getting more traction for impeachment, out of simple institutional self-respect. But I'm
not holding my breath either.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=109&topic_id=33760&mesg_id=33760

[elehhhhna]

7. Mukasey should be impeached, like, yesterday...then Bushler.

[Prophet 451]

17. Impeachment is "off the table"

Don't bother trying to convince me it's necessary, I already agree it's entirely necessary and at this point, verging on self-defence but the bastards that we need to get it moving seem determined to jump like lemmings rather than let CheneyBush answer for their crimes.

[spanone]

5. mukasey was a big mistake or a great calculation depending on your side

[formercia]

6. 'Gravedigger' Mukasey strikes again.

Junior is baiting Congress.

[Supersedeas]

9. Justice Mukasey style -- message to public, the powerful can ignore subpoenas

[mainegreen]

10. Uh oh. Time to fetch .... the comfy chairs!!!

That'll show them whose boss!

[Vincardog]

11. IF the DOJ does not want to comply with Congress, can't Congress just freeze their funds?

No more money for you until we have what we want in our hands.

[mopinko]

19. then we search the empty offices, like haliburton did after anthrax letters.

then we get to flush the toilet.

[VP505]

14. Its gotten to the point that

Waxman and the others on the receiving end of being given the finger by Bu$hCo should either put up or shut up. If they keep refusing to take punitive action then its their own fault that their subpoenas are being ignored.

[babylonsister]

15. I agree; it's time for some concrete 'action'. nt

[Supersedeas]

21. their inaction is setting a precedent of weakness

[Prophet 451]

16. Then arrest them!

Fucks sake, since when is complying with subpoenas voluntary? The executive branch has is running amok and the Founders never envisiged a situation like this where one faction of one party has the entire executive, most of the judicial and enough of the legislative to be able to do whatever it likes. Impeach the president and VP, arrest those refusing to comply with subpoenas and restore the rule of law or is it going to take another fucking revolution to put things right?

[Disturbed]

18. If Waxman backs down after July 3, he might as well resign.

This is the showdown, at last. If Waxman doesn't enforce the Subpoenas Congressional Power will have been declared null & void.

[Prophet 451]

20. I thought it already had been

Which is not to say that I wouldn't applaud an effort to reclaim some of it.

[Pastiche423]

22. Will July 3 be the day they use inherent comtempt?

Inherent contempt

Under this process, the procedure for holding a person in contempt involves only the chamber concerned. Following a contempt citation, the person cited is arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms for the House or Senate, brought to the floor of the chamber, held to answer charges by the presiding officer, and then subjected to punishment as the chamber may dictate (usually imprisonment for punishment reasons, imprisonment for coercive effect, or release from the contempt citation.)