Bush Vows To Block Efforts To Subpoena Staff

With A.G Gonzales now trapped in his own web of lies, this looks like more damage control from the White House. Congress doesn't appreciate being lied to on the record any more than the American public does.

Rove is trying to confine the fallout over this latest fiasco to the DOJ, just like they tried to confine the fallout over Walter Reed to the DOA. The poop in DC is starting to show anti-grav characteristics as it begins to flow uphill for a change.

Maybe this is what they call "blowback."

[edit on 24-3-2007 by Icarus Rising]

I see now that one of the senior JD people that may be involved in this will be pleading the 5th.

Monica Goodling, a senior Justice Department official involved in the firings of federal prosecutors, will refuse to answer questions at upcoming Senate hearings, citing Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, her lawyer said Monday.

Source

I find it a bit ironic that this Justice Department, which has done so much to destroy the US Constitution and civil rights is now hiding behind said Constitution.

It appears the U.S. Constitution is just a gd piece of paper unless you are using it to cover your rear end in case of blowback.

Fifth Amendment

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."



It looks like the Fifth is going to get a good work out.

A Justice Department official will refuse to answer questions during a Senate committee hearing on the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself, her lawyer said Monday.

In a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monica Goodling's lawyer said she would not testify because senators have already decided that wrongdoing occurred.
www.cnn.com...

Edit: OCD




[edit on 27/3/2007 by anxietydisorder]

A top aide to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales abruptly quit Friday, almost two weeks after telling Congress she would not testify about her role in the firings of federal prosecutors.

Monica M. Goodling, the Justice Department's liaison to the White House, gave no reason for her resignation. Since she was at the center of the firings, Goodling's refusal to testify has intensified questions about whether the U.S. attorney dismissals were proper and heightened the furor that threatens Gonzales' own job.

link

I don't think she needed to give a reason for resigning, do you? It is pretty obvious she quit over the scandal surrounding the firing of these federal prosecutors.

The question now is, how does this affect her willingness to testify about her role, and more importantly the A.G.'s role, in the firings?

Maybe Justin Oldham will chime in with his perspective on this.

Eventually, I believe she will testify once someone convinces her that her character and integrity are depending on her telling the truth--as earnest as it may be. (might have to gag me) But for now she's gagged by her lawyers.

Being a lawyer, she knows what laws she broke. More importantly (to her), she's protecting Rove and Gonzo for as long as she can. It's how they earn their wings.

But you do have to marvel at the fact that it's another 'Monica' who will be this administration's unraveling. That alone is delicious. She's probably thinking that it wasn't supposed to be this way.

Best muck here.

This might change a few things.

A House panel granted immunity Wednesday to a former Justice Department aide in its probe of the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, while senators authorized a subpoena for the White House's political director.

Monica Goodling, a former aide to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, had invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify before Congress about the firings.

The Justice Department released documents that show Goodling was involved in discussions about which prosecutors would be fired. Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Michigan, said the committee "exhausted all reasonable efforts to obtain Ms. Goodling's critical information" short of offering immunity.

The panel also voted to subpoena Goodling in connection with the probe.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 32-6 to authorize the grant of immunity to Goodling, who resigned earlier this month.
www.cnn.com...

Kind of throws the fifth out the window if she has immunity.

In this day and age where people like Martha Stewart and Scooter Libby get sentenced for giving conflicting statements to federal officials, I can't believe anyone would fault anyone for exercising their right to remain silent.

I would if put in that position.

[edit on 4/26/2007 by djohnsto77]

Character and integrity from someone in this administration? ROTFLMAO