Leahy Says Bush Officials Could Be Prosecuted

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said in an interview Tuesday evening that Bush Administration officials could be criminally prosecuted if they lied under oath as part of a proposed investigation into Bush-era abuses.

Leahy chose his words carefully, to be sure. But his words went slightly farther than that of other Congressional Democrats, who maintain that probing abuses of the Bush era is critical to preserving the integrity of law.

"You're going to have people, some people will say, let's go ahead and prosecute everybody," Leahy told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow Tuesday. "That can take 10 or 15 years. Others want to ignore everything. I don't agree with that."

But, he said, the Senate could set up a "truth commission" like that established by Sen. Frank Church in the 1970s, which was aimed at bringing out abuses of the President Richard Nixon era. Church's commission resulted in an array of reforms that tightened civil liberties protections after Nixon's infamous wiretapping and Watergate scandals.

"What if a truth commission did a thorough investigation of the type you're describing and they found that in fact horrible crimes were committed?" Maddow asked. "If there wouldn't be prosecution, how would say -- how would we say now we know and they all legally got away with it, how would that stop these things from happening again?"

Leahy seemed to signal a slight shift -- previously his focus seemed more on uncovering misdeeds than in prosecuting officials. While not saying that he was planning for prosecutions, he indicated that they could certainly result.

"I think because of the fact it's very, very public and the way they find out about it, it makes it very clear to the next person, you try the same thing, you are going to be found out, you are going to be prosecuted," Leahy said. "You are also going to have some people that will refuse to -- perhaps refuse to testify, even though offered immunity. With the evidence from the others, they can be prosecuted. And, of course, anybody can be prosecuted for perjury."

more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Leahy_Truth_commission_may_be_only_0211.html

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Leahy was very clear on that... he doesn't expect Rumsfeld and the higher ups

to testify which I see as his way of prosecuting them without appearing too partisan.

[mmonk]

2. Go for it Leahy.

This do nothing crap has been really getting under his skin.

[Beaverhausen]

3. K&R

[emulatorloo]

4. Leahy is a smart cookie. I think the man has a plan EOM

[tekisui]

5. I think he has had a plan for quite some time.

He has been around long enough to know how it's done. He has waiting in the grass for the perfect moment to strike.

[chollybocker]

6. I support Mr. Leahy 100%.

Historical truth is essential to American progress.

[RC]

7. "...Could Be Prosecuted"???

How about "Shall" or "Will" or "Must" be prosecuted?
Maybe we can finally stop the 'Killing For peace' that finances the criminals - at least till the people forget again.

[bobthedrummer]

8. They must be prosecuted. K&R.

[omega minimo]

9. that doesn't make sense:

...it's very, very public and the way they find out about it, it makes it very clear to the next person, you try the same thing, you are going to be found out, you are going to be prosecuted," Leahy said.

Not if THESE guys AREN'T prosecuted. It proves you can get away with it cuz they did.

The Church Commission -- wasn't that during the investigations into Watergate, prior to impeachment? Not after a non-impeachment.

Those events back then also stimulated Dick Cheney to pull off the Bushco regime/Imperial President in the first place.

:evilfrown:

Good luck to Leahy and anyone else.

[Senator]

10. It Might Be Better To Just Prosecute Leahy...

...for failing for years to impeach/prosecute known torturers and war criminals -- when it would have upheld our treaty obligations and made a difference in our national prestige.

Think he'll be willing to line up and testify about that?

At least we can http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Senator/14">add a new false rationalization for inaction -- 10 or 15 years (oh, my!) -- to the list or excuses for insisting on acting as accessories-after-the-fact to atrocities.

---

[KharmaTrain]

11. He's Been Waiting Two Years To Get To This Point...

The fog and stonewall of "executive privilidge" is lifted and by holding their powder, many of the targets of investigations weren't pardoned...and all they got was an ambiguous "immunity" while boooshie was headed out the door. We'll learn more about this immunity and how the Holder Justice Department wants to proceede on the 18th. If they don't support booooshie's claim...the one Rove is trying to use to keep his ass out of being indicted...then we could see a lot of activity by Leahy, Waxman and Conyers.

Don't forget about the outside investigations that are still ongoing...the DOJ firing case is starting to focus on Gonzo's perjury in front of Leahy's committee and the Sieglemann case is zeroing in on Rove's games. And I expect more investigations and suits to come.

While people may be frustrated that none of the boooshies have been frog marched yet, patience and persistence are a virtue. The more the GOOP overplays their hands and piss off a majority of the American people, the more popular the concept of prosecutions and "truth commissions" will be not just accepted but encouraged. Too many people are pissed, too many have been wronged and there are too many crimes by the booooosh regime that can't go unpunished if this country and the Congress is to restore their credibility.

Cheers...

[NikRik]

12. COULD AND SHOULD !!!!!!!!!!!

Why is this even a ? that has to be pondered ? The bush administration has caused endless suffering to millions of Americians as others ,has caused a economic melt down of our countires financial standing at home & around the world ! Bush is as always one lucky SOB ,if he had been President in the early days of our govermnent he would have been tared and feathered at the least and hung by the neck at the worst(in bushes case he would still be getting off easy)I say use all of the torture methods used on others under his command,then hang him by his family jewels ! To simply say it makes no differance to investigate his actions is for the simple minded ,who dont seem to care that politicians get a free ride when breaking our laws.Chenney and his ties to haliburton are in itself a reason for investigation . When someone recieves millions of $ for "early retirement" (who ever heard of that) right B/4 they take up a position as powerful a V.P. of our country ,my gosh what kind of slap in the face do we need. Why would we be so blind to a obvious set up for corruption . Then for it to actually happen soon afterwards. Check out how many no bid contracts where awarded hliburton in Iraq adding up into the billions of $ wasted on that do nothing war ,that has left our milatary demoralized and ?ing the honestly of their leaders ! If ever the Rico act should be used against a ex President and his gang of thieves nowv is the time. Bush wasd like Robin Hood in reverse ,steal from the poor and give to the rich . This should not be left to President Obama to do or decide ,he is to busy cleaning up the mess left behind by this corrupt bush presidency , we dont need some big group of talking heads to decide what to do ,cut to the chase, charge bush and co.with running a criminial enterprise and arrest them all !
NikRik

[Beetwasher]

13. Oh, This Is SWEET SWEET Music To My Ears!!!

Oh man oh man!