Bush wire-tapping clearly illegal

By Matthew Cardinale, Atlanta Progressive News (December 26, 2005) Atlanta’s US Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) has taken the national lead on suggesting that George Bush’s secret authorization of domestic wiretapping may be an impeachable offense. Lewis is the first member of US Congress to directly suggest the President may need to be impeached. In a similar move, US Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) sent an email on December 19, 2005, to constituents last week citing Former White House Counsel John Dean, who also suggested there may now be grounds for Bush’s impeachment. Boxer has requested a legal analysis from four Presidential scholars at US Ivy League Schools. The issue is gaining traction in the mainstream media and in US Congress because it is seen as a clearly illegal and clearly evident offense, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. The Associated Press issued a brief article citing Lewis’s statement last week. Earlier last week, US Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) introduced articles on censure of President George Bush and Vice President Cheney regarding their conduct in the time leading up to the US Invasion of Iraq. Conyers is also seeking a Select Committee to investigate the administration’s possible crimes during that time, and make recommendations regarding the grounds for impeachment. US Rep. John Lewis--A National Progressive Leader and Civil Rights Activist Conyers last week also released a report, "The Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution and Coverups in the Iraq War." Lewis spoke publicly regarding the possibility of impeaching Bush on the wiretapping issue on December 19, 2005, on WAOK-AM News & Talk Radio 1380’s "Atlanta’s Best News" morning program. Lewis’s spokesperson, Brenda Jones, told Atlanta Progressive News that the Congressman has said all he is going to say on the matter for the time being and is presently not commenting further. "If there is a move to impeach the president, I will sign that bill of impeachment," Lewis said. "It’s a very serious charge, but he violated the law. The president should abide by the law. He deliberately, systematically violated the law," Lewis said. "He is not King, he is President." "On December 16, along with the rest of America, I learned that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans without getting a warrant from a judge," Senator Boxer said, regarding the initial revelation in The New York Times. President Bush fought to have the story held, and even held meetings with the paper’s publishers. Bush later condemned the Whistleblower who leaked the critical information to The Times. "On Sunday, December 18, former White House Counsel John Dean and I participated in a public discussion that covered many issues, including this surveillance. Mr. Dean, who was President Nixon's counsel at the time of Watergate, said that President Bush is ‘the first President to admit to an impeachable offense.’ Today, Mr. Dean confirmed his statement," Senators Boxer said. "This startling assertion by Mr. Dean is especially poignant because he experienced first hand the executive abuse of power and a presidential scandal arising from the surveillance of American citizens," Senator Boxer said. Matthew Cardinale is Editor of Atlanta Progressive News.  He may be reached at matthew@atlantaprogressivenews.com