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MADem

(135,425 posts)

26. Not if you're a sitting Senator, it isn't. They're ALLOWED to lie.

Thu Mar 2, 2017, 02:56 AM

Mar 2017

Sessions was a sitting Senator when he LIED about his Russian relations.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2001/01/who_can_lie_to_congress.html

Members of Congress are given an absolute privilege to lie with impunity in the House or Senate, if they so desire, by the Speech or Debate Clause in Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution. It states that, with regard to senators and representatives, "for Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place." The Framers of the Constitution wanted to encourage debate in Congress, and they did not want that debate chilled by the threat of lawsuits.

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Nothing will happen with Sessions. He is a Republican. [View all] yuiyoshida Mar 2017 OP

I See We Agree. Based On What We See So Far Expecting Anything Is Wishful Thinking. TheMastersNemesis Mar 2017 #1

Absolutely which is why if they want, they NEVER have to give up power... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #2

Are you old enough to remember when Flynn resigned? N/T Big Blue Marble Mar 2017 #3

It takes integrity to Resign... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #5

Flynn had no integrity. Big Blue Marble Mar 2017 #10

Who is going to bring the heat? yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #14

Who brought the heat on Flynn? Maru Kitteh Mar 2017 #20

They don't have to play ball any more...they OWN THE DAMN BALL... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #23

They owned the ball when Flynn went bye bye. Maru Kitteh Mar 2017 #27

If you think that will happen with Sessions I think you are wrong... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #29

He lied to congress they are setting precedent someone needs to point out the abject hypocrisy onecaliberal Mar 2017 #4

It doesn't matter what he did... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #6

Lying to congress is a crime. The Dems need to refuse to show up until the onecaliberal Mar 2017 #7

I KNOW ITS A CRIME...hello? yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #11

I think there are still Dems in congress who CAN refuse to show up. Without a quorum onecaliberal Mar 2017 #13

I Think they have ALL THE CARDS... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #16

All the more reason for democrats to stop showing up onecaliberal Mar 2017 #17

All the President has to do is fire the Department heads and yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #21

Technically, because of what he was (a Senator), it was not a crime. MADem Mar 2017 #28

Not if you're a sitting Senator, it isn't. They're ALLOWED to lie. MADem Mar 2017 #26

See? there you go... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #31

Are you suggesting... tonedevil Mar 2017 #36

first of all look at this.. yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #37

That may enter into it... tonedevil Mar 2017 #50

I think a President Pence would be worse... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #52

You get no argument... tonedevil Mar 2017 #55

It's always possible, however, than Pence will be dragged down the mountain along with the rest. randome Mar 2017 #79

I would love to see that happen, because yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #81

And of all the things to spend resources on, they make that one of their primary targets. randome Mar 2017 #83

blindness and pure stupidity yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #84

The fact that the "diplomat" he met with is one of the Russian government's MADem Mar 2017 #48

That isn't this situation. He lied under oath, he wasn't making a speech still_one Mar 2017 #41

Neither was John Ashcroft. MADem Mar 2017 #43

I guess people don't believe it... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #47

He could still be shown the door--just not for perjury. MADem Mar 2017 #49

yeah maybe yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #51

If the narrative that "Sessions colluded with a Russian spy" sticks, MADem Mar 2017 #56

Yup! yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #57

But it was not a "speech or debate". It was a confirmation hearing (nt) muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #62

It absolutely WAS "speech." It was response to queries (speech) during a hearing. MADem Mar 2017 #63

Why would they add "or debate" if they wanted "speech" to mean "any words"? muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #64

Made in Senate committee, as testimony prior to Ashcroft's MADem Mar 2017 #94

No, made by Ashcroft in 2000, on the Senate floor muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #95

I don't see that dog hunting. I'm sorry-I just don't. MADem Mar 2017 #96

No, he wasn't "at work" - he was applying for a new job, as Attorney General muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #97

Doesn't matter--he was STILL a Senator, in his workplace. MADem Mar 2017 #98

He was under oath during a confirmation Cosmocat Mar 2017 #68

Doesn't matter. He was engaged in speech (i.e., talking) MADem Mar 2017 #93

see #26 yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #33

This information was LEAKED. MADem Mar 2017 #8

LETS say the FBI goes after him... Trump can pardon him... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #12

No, they aren't "in charge of everything." MADem Mar 2017 #19

I doubt anything will happen, too. herding cats Mar 2017 #9

He """technically""" didn't do anything wrong. MADem Mar 2017 #24

Ah, I hadn't considered that lovely loophole. herding cats Mar 2017 #89

The optics are horrible--but he won't be "gotten" on perjury. MADem Mar 2017 #92

Remember what the trump people said to the ethics branch about Conway shilling for Ivanka? TeamPooka Mar 2017 #15

There is no democracy any longer... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #18

and their base will cheer them when they burn the Constitution. nt TeamPooka Mar 2017 #22

Absolutely right... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #25

I don't believe you need Congress to file perjury charges against the attorney general. Couldn't still_one Mar 2017 #30

what power do they have? yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #32

He committed purjury under oath. Federal Attorney's can do it if they have the evidence still_one Mar 2017 #39

again Read... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #40

I did read it. He was under oath. This is the reason the bush administration still_one Mar 2017 #42

if you read it you will know he is untouchable.. yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #44

It will be for the courts to decide still_one Mar 2017 #45

He will never be brought to court yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #46

agreed still_one Mar 2017 #53

No--the Constitution allows sitting Senators to lie their asses off. MADem Mar 2017 #54

ok, thanks still_one Mar 2017 #60

the victory here would be for sessions to recuse himself lapfog_1 Mar 2017 #34

he is allowed to lie... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #35

I don't understand why a senator can lie but that president Clinton was impeached for doing so yeoman6987 Mar 2017 #70

Weren't the Republicans in the majority during that time too? yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #73

I think, even if he does try to brazen it out, that'll be the minimum result. nt MADem Mar 2017 #58

This is America 2017 world wide wally Mar 2017 #38

Chris Cillizza of WaPo disagrees: ginnyinWI Mar 2017 #59

I never said "There is nothing to see here" I simply stated the fact that the yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #61

Well, there's 150 million of us and we're right meadowlander Mar 2017 #65

150 MILLION of us maybe but they are the law makers... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #66

No, they can't "damn well do as they please" because they are facing reelection in two years meadowlander Mar 2017 #90

Worse yet DFW Mar 2017 #67

Or blame it on Obama yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #72

Democrats will drop this quicker than their 'fight' for Garland. nt RandiFan1290 Mar 2017 #69

He lied to Congress. Demsrule86 Mar 2017 #71

see post #26 yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #74

I see this the same as you madokie Mar 2017 #75

Just saw this.. yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #76

When appropriate he says madokie Mar 2017 #80

Yea ... Friday I am going to buy 6 ounces of legal Medical Marijuana yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #82

I'm jealous madokie Mar 2017 #88

Ya know for a while yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #91

dont understimate the stench of russia all over conservatives and 2018 is coming beachbum bob Mar 2017 #77

i hope it won't go away... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #78

sessions is an evil opportunistic ass...gotta love karma beachbum bob Mar 2017 #87

I am not completely optimistic get the red out Mar 2017 #85

Yeah that's our only hope... yuiyoshida Mar 2017 #86