FDL: Why Isn’t Brett Tolman In Prison Yet?

[deminks]

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/03/28/why-isnt-brett-tolman-in-prison-yet/

There may be legitimate reasons why Brett Tolman isn't in prison; I'm not sure. But there are certainly none that would explain why he is still the U.S. Attorney for Utah. Yes, another U.S. Attorney — but one, unlike crimebusters Carol Lam, David Iglesias, John McKay, etc — that wasn't fired. In fact, if not for Mr. Tolman none of them would have been fired. But that goes back to his old job when he was a staffer for Arlen Specter at the time when Specter was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Tolman was a counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee when they were reauthorizing the so-called "Patriot Act" in 2005-06. He reported to Snarlin' Arlen — or at least that is what Specter believed. Specter was unaware of the Bush Regime's tight-knit "Mormon Mafia" operated by Karl Rove at the heart of the U.S. government. He learned the hard way.

One night, before passage of the bill, Tolman surreptitiously inserted a paragraph into the legislation that basically removed Senate oversight and approval of replacements for U.S. Attorneys. Tolman didn't ask Specter and didn't tell Specter or, as far as we know, any other senators. He just snuck it into the bill and none of them knew they were voting for that provision. Is that embarrassing, or what? I think so. And I think it plays a role in why the senators have been pretty mum on this episode. And what made it worse is that the Senate unanimously approved Bush's nomination of Tolman, soon after… as U.S. Attorney for Utah!

When Specter finally did discover he had been duped by Tolman and tried to get to the bottom of it, all he was told was that Tolman had acted on behalf of the Justice Department! No names. The question remains, did Rove tell Tolman to do it directly or did he use Gonzales as his messenger boy?

(Snarlin' Arlen - I love it)

[Bitwit1234]

1. Since no member of congress inserted the provision shouldn't the appointments

themselves to be illegal. And yes he should be in jail...an aide does not have the authority to do this. It is a breach of the consitution and isn't that treason. Tell the S.O.B. if he doesn't come clean he WILL be charged with treason.

[Eric J in MN]

2. What law did Brett Tolman break?

Brett Tolman deserves criticism.

However, if US Senators don't read the bills they vote on, that isn't his fault.

[depakid]

3. Agreed

The Dems should have blocked the entire piece of legislation- period. But they sold us all out instead (despite well known revelations of abuse and the fact that the so called "patriot" act is widely unpopular).

Not sure whether Tolman broke any laws- he may well have, but the bottom line is that the Dems got taken in... when they should have known better.

Ask yourselves- would Republicans have been taken in- or failed to block legislation like this had the shoe been on the other foot?

[Richard Steele]

4. Aides are not allowed to create LAW. Only members of Congress.

I don't know exactly what law, if any, covers such
a situation. But that section he inserted surely
should not be considered a "law".

"Criticism" for subverting our entire legislative process?
No, he needs jail time, and lots of it. This outrageous shit
can NOT be allowed to go unpunished.

[deminks]

5. I respectfully disagree.

This provision was inserted a short time before the Patriot Act was voted on. I don't think either side of the aisle knew it was there. Hence, this week, we have overwhelming bipartisanship supporting the removal of this provision.

The key here is to find out who told him to do this. And to remove him from his current role as US Attorney from Utah. Talk about a political appointment! He sneaks in this provision for Rove and Smirky, then he gets to be a US Attorney! Do you pay him enough, KKKarl? Are you sure???

[Gabi Hayes]

6. thank you for the REALLY relevant statement so far:

''The key here is to find out who told him to do this. And to remove him from his current role as US Attorney from Utah.''