Prosecutor: Bush Appointees Interfered In Tobacco Case-Costing Taxpayers BILLIONS!

[kpete]

Prosecutor: Bush appointees interfered in case. Front-page of today’s Washington Post:


``The political people were pushing the buttons and ordering us to say what we said,'' Eubanks said. ``And because of that, we failed to zealously represent the interests of the American public.''


The leader of the Justice Department team that prosecuted a landmark lawsuit against tobacco companies said yesterday that Bush administration political appointees repeatedly ordered her to take steps that weakened the government’s racketeering case.

Sharon Y. Eubanks said Bush loyalists in Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales’s office began micromanaging the team’s strategy in the final weeks of the 2005 trial, to the detriment of the government’s claim that the industry had conspired to lie to U.S. smokers.

She said a supervisor demanded that she and her trial team drop recommendations that tobacco executives be removed from their corporate positions as a possible penalty. He and two others instructed her to tell key witnesses to change their testimony. And they ordered Eubanks to read verbatim a closing argument they had rewritten for her, she said.

............

News reports on the strategy changes at the time caused an uproar in Congress and sparked an inquiry by the Justice Department. Government witnesses said they had been asked to change testimony and one expert withdrew from the case. Government lawyers also announced that they were scaling back a proposed penalty against the industry from $130 billion to $10 billion.

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032102713.html?nav=rss_politics

[Donnachaidh]

1. I'll drive to Washington to serve the subpoenas

Do it NOW.

[blueguynredcity]

28. And, Jack Abramoff is getting a sentence reduction!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6500283,00.html

One more reason to get these guys under oath and testifying before congress.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Those darn incompetent plummers!

They just can't stop the drips. Hope Eubanks is in a safe location.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. And how many more of those 93 US Attys played ball with this this corrupt Admin? Schumer inferred

on Countdown last night that with all the DOJ employees, he wouldn't be surprised if more stepped forward.

MSM is driving talking points that this is political. This is Not Political! I hope America realizes how this attacks the very core of our system of government.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. It WAS political from the Administration side

It's on Congress' side that it's not, well except for the Minority.

22 years. That means she came in under Reagan. She's sure to get a question during the hearing that asks if she's a Reagan Democrat who supported John Kerry.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. I disagree that it was political on the side of the Adm. I believe it was just plain

thievery. They influenced a trial where billions of dollars were involved. By reducing the amount sought in the lawsuit, they stole the money that was to be awarded to our treasury. I wonder how much in kickbacks were involved?

[maine_raptor]

10. Follow the money?

Big T lawyers..........how many were Repub law firms, and what were the donations and WHEN were they made?

How many got jobs in BushCo after the settlement?

Oh the questions just make me dizzy.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. Following the money is the way to go. eom

[Norquist Nemesis]

15. Ah, but you are a sane, logical, and reasonable individual

The Administration, on the other hand, has everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) put through the filter of the Chief Political Aide to Bush. He's unable to distinguish politics and policy when it comes to his POV, but anything that is out of step with that POV is a threat to the political power he controls.

[Marie26]

4. K&R

This has been going on since Bushco came to power; I don't know why the media is suddenly deciding to report it now.

[ellenfl]

17. i'm just grateful that they are. eom

[maine_raptor]

6. K&R This is a "good one".

Let's just keep the stories about the Bush Admin uses of the DOJ on comin'.

Throw a few more branches on this smoldering campfire, she'll catch on yet.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

8. Oh, my. There are a number of improprieties in there.

:wow:

[fed-up]

9. can you fix typo in title so article can be found later w/search? tObacco thnx nt

[kpete]

12. thanks

for helping me out here....kp

[Blackhatjack]

11. When 'Insiders' with this Administration step to the microphone it is always amazing....

This paragraph really opens a nasty can of worms that cannot be closed from public view:

"She said a supervisor demanded that she and her trial team drop recommendations that tobacco executives be removed from their corporate positions as a possible penalty. He and two others instructed her to tell key witnesses to change their testimony. And they ordered Eubanks to read verbatim a closing argument they had rewritten for her, she said."

This is outrageous conduct at the least, likely evidence of crimes being committed by this Administration.

Anyone, and that includes officials of the US Government, who tells a witness to 'change their testimony' so that they are no longer telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is engaging in acts that at their very least aid and abet the putting on of perjured testimony.

THere are numerous attorneys who have been prosecuted for just that kind of conduct, and subequently disbarred.

[Lasher]

13. Nother thread on the subject

Go here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x471812

[autorank]

14. K&R Here's the deal

This remedy, "drop recommendations that tobacco executives be removed from their corporate positions as a possible penalty" would have had long term effects in tobacco and every other public poisoning case out there. Gonzo needs to be held accountable.

[Wednesdays]

18. "Costing taxpayers billions." Out of our pockets and into...

...well, guess who's pockets.

:argh:

[Mister Ed]

19. K&R. The crucial quote that I didn't see in our other threads on this topic is:

"Government lawyers also announced that they were scaling back a proposed penalty against the industry from $130 billion to $10 billion."

[benld74]

20. I remember when this hit the papers, I said to myself WTF

They had them by the cajoles and for some reason they let the b*stards off the hook. WHY? Congress said WHY? Now we KNOW WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[duhneece]

21. As an aside?, Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide were funded thru OJP $$'s

Office of Justice Programs (OJP), funded by the tobacco companies, helped Boys & Girls Clubs operate & grow through the early part of 2000's. So this helps tobacco executives, hurts youth. Why do only Dems seem to care about that?

Can anyone think of a way the following could hurt Dirty Domenici...or is it just one of those things I have to accept? Pass it along (I can give the names that are available in the public Board Minutes) or pm me who I could take this to.

In (public) Board Minutes of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Otero County, a Board Member (& our Republican State Representative) asked a B&GC Regional Director why Dona Ana County got an additional $One hundred Thousand Dollars before the monies were distributed among all counties again. The RSD replied that the Executive Officer of the Dona Ana County B&GC was married to a man who headed 'Democrats for Bush' and Senator Domenici told the Regional administration to reward Dona Ana County's B&G Club for that political favor. Just business as usual? & I need to 'put my Big-Girl panties on'?

[IWantAChange]

22. Geez - just saved $120billion - wonder who the tobacco industry LOVES?????

if we didn't have Repukes looking out for the common man where would this country be?? Influencing the very prosecutors who are supposed to be the defenders of the populace in favor of big business seems to be a bit more important than say - 'flag burning' or 'Terry Schiavo' dont you think???????

This (Gonzogate aka AG scandal) is thee wedge issue/scandal/Watergate/whatever that if pursued properly will help to insure we rid ourselves of Repuke control for generations.

[krkaufman]

23. Yet idiots like Lou Dobbs continue to echo the Right Wing talking point...

... that the US Attorneys issue is just partisan wrangling. We're a far cry from the days of Murrow or Cronkite.

For the masochists, here's Dobbs' opinion piece...

Dobbs: 'Showdown' really a battle of partisan buffoons

[Marie26]

24. "But he stands up for the little guy!"

Sorry, need to get in my Dobbs slam. Dobbs has no creditibility on this issue - he was PLAYED by Bushco, who leaked falsified evidence to get Dobbs all hot & bothered about Lam's immigration prosecutions. Dobbs then got on his soapbox and ranted daily against US Att. Carol Lam, just like Rove wanted. He's an idiot.

[krkaufman]

26. Ah, that helps explain his bias on this. Thanks. n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. Kick! eom

[ClintonTyree]

27. ....."and sparked an inquiry by the Justice Department".

You're kidding me, right? :rofl: Gee, I wonder how THAT went? I'm sure Gonzo and pals were all over that like white on rice. :eyes:

The Bush mafia strikes again. Now, I wonder how much of that money the Bush loyalists saved the tobacco companies ended up in Republican election coffers? Or personal bank accounts? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? :banghead: