Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Gonzo Still Stonewalling


Seems the Bushites learned the lessons of Watregate:
Lie, Obsfuscate, withold/destroy evidence and otherwise stonewall any and all attempts at getting to the truth of anything they have done. Because, let's face it, doing time for obstruction of justice, perjury or whatever is better than the truth coming out.

Of course, the pardon fix is in so, if they just drag things out long enough, there will be no time served for a damn thing anyway.

Seems to me that that, all by itself, should be taken as proof of guilt when it comes to politicians. Why would one cover-up something that is not criminal, especially when the embarrassment has already been inflicted by the information that is in the public record?


Gonzales still withholding key information on Attorneys, says letter from House investigators
Michael Roston

Published: Tuesday June 5, 2007

A letter sent to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales by the House Judiciary Committee alleges that the Justice Department has failed to turn over information in a variety of categories requested in the course of the US Attorneys investigation. A top House Democrat subsequently made a veiled threat to issue more subpoenas.

"I must again reiterate several long-standing requests for documents and other information from the Department of Justice, a number of which were made months before the May 10 hearing," Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said in a Monday letter to the Attorney General obtained by RAW STORY.

After noting that progress has been made in fulfilling earlier subpoenas, Conyers added a warning.

"I hope to avoid a more formal legal process, but reiterate again that this information should be provided as soon as possible," he wrote.

Conyers outlined the information he was seeking in an attachment with the letter. On the US Attorneys investigation, the information he sought included: documents concerning contact between Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) and fired US Attorney for Arizona Paul Charlton; Answers to questions and unredacted documents on the resignation of former Minnesota US Attorney Tom Heffelfinger; and, unredacted documents on the firing of US Attorney for Kansas City Todd Graves.

The House Judiciary Committee was also seeking information pertaining to national security-related matters outside the scope of the US Attorneys investigation, such as a report on US residents detained on suspicion of terrorism, answers to questions for the record on the FBI's use of National Security Letters, and answers to questions raised after the testimony of former Deputy Attorney General James Comey on the National Security Agency's domestic wiretapping programs.

In addition to the follow-up on earlier information, Conyers forwarded 26 pages of detailed questions for the record to Gonzales, which were supplemental to questions asked after the Attorney General's May 10 hearing before the House Committee. Conyers sought answers by June 18.

Many of the questions for the record concerned revelations arising from the May 23 hearing with Monica Goodling, the former White House Liaison at the Justice Department. The Committee sought: information on discussions between Gonzales and other Justice Department employees about the process that led to the firing of the Attorneys, since March 8; Gonzales's awareness of inaccuracies in the Feb. 6 testimony of Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty; the Attorney General's awareness of and involvement in Monica Goodling's political criteria for hiring decisions on career employees; White House involvement in personnel decisions by Goodling; and, whether or not Goodling received any bonuses or raises during her tenure at the Justice Department, and for what reasons.

Questions in the document were also submitted by Reps. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Brad Sherman (D-CA). The questions concerned a variety of subjects in addition to the US Attorneys firings.

An additional 22-page document came from Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the Ranking Republican on the Committee, with 52 questions on the details of the firings of various US Attorneys. However, the questions were drafted prior to Goodling's hearing.

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. The Lantern has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is The Lantern endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)

....And The Truth Shall Set Us Free


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