Democrats send out first round of subpoenas

[Rose Siding]

A House Judiciary subcommittee approved today the first in what is expected to be an avalanche of subpoenas to Bush administration officials. They will likely explore corruption and mismanagement allegations on everything from pre-war Iraq intelligence to the mishandling of the response to Hurricane Katrina.

The first round of subpoenas concern the recent controversial firings by the Bush administration of seven U.S. attorneys, some of whom were pursuing public corruption cases against Republican members of Congress.

The House Judiciary subcommittee on commercial and administrative law, chaired by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), approved subpoenas requiring four former U.S. attorneys to appear at a subcommittee hearing next Tuesday. The former U.S. attorneys include Carol Lam of California, David Iglesias of New Mexico, H.E. Cummins III of Arkansas, and John McKay of Washington state. The subcommittee approved the subpoenas by voice vote; no Republican lawmakers were present.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Fro...


The House Judiciary Committee released the following statement:

Washington – House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers today issued subpoenas against certain former U.S. Attorneys who were recently fired by the Bush Administration. The subpoenas were authorized by the Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law (CAL), chaired by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez.

The subpoenas require former U.S. Attorneys David C. Iglesias, Carol Lam, H.E. Cummins, III, and John McKay to appear before a CAL Subcommittee hearing next week.

“The former U.S. Attorneys are alleging very serious charges against the Administration and we need to hear from them,” Chairman Conyers said. “We want to hear their stories and we want the Administration to address the charges head on so that we can get to the bottom of this.”

“We decided to issue subpoenas only as a last resort,” said Chairwoman Sánchez. “We need to get to the bottom of whether competency in upholding the law is being sacrificed for political ideology.”

Subcommittee members voted this afternoon in a public meeting. The subpoenas will be issued this evening for the U.S. Attorneys to appear before the subcommittee on Tuesday, March 6, at 2:00 pm in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will consider a bill by Congressman Howard Berman that would reverse a new provision in the USA PATRIOT Act allowing the Attorney General to indefinitely appoint federal prosecutors

http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=77

[Mz Pip]

1. I've been hoping for this

This is what needs to happen. There needs to be oversite and accountability in government. The Republics did what they wanted for 6 years. It's time for the American people to see just what they were up to.

Mz Pip

[patricia92243]

5. Very nicely put. I agree 100 percent!!

[aggiesal]

68. 6 Years? Try 12!

They've had control of the House and Senate since 1994.
But would only did oversight on Clinton, never on King George.

[ClassWarrior]

2. And away we go!!...

Visualize. Then DO. (see below for details)

NGU.

[cal04]

3. Judiciary Subcommittee Issues Subpoenas

Judiciary Subcommittee Issues Subpoenas for Hearing on Case of Fired U.S. Attorneys

(snip)
Subcommittee members voted this afternoon in a public meeting. The subpoenas will be issued this evening for the U.S. Attorneys to appear before the subcommittee on Tuesday, March 6, at 2:00 pm in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will consider a bill by Congressman Howard Berman that would reverse a new provision in the USA PATRIOT Act allowing the Attorney General to indefinitely appoint federal prosecutors through the end of the Bush Administration without Senate confirmation.

http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=77

[Rose Siding]

6. Thanks -just added that too

High time.

[aquart]

58. Revoke the Patriot Act in toto. Not a good line in it.

[NJCher]

67. to clarify

The subpoenas are being issued to the attorneys who were fired. The blog entry quotes Conyers as saying they have made very serious charges and they need to be heard.



Cher

[TacticalPeek]

4. Here come da judge.

How sweet it is, how sweet it is.

[Rose Siding]

9. I've longed to see this headline for a very long time

[ourvoicescount]

57. I couldn't agree more.

[tiptoe]

7. X post (Video blog: "Now, make it RA-A-AIN subpoenas!...RAIN RAIN Subpoenas!!...")

Make It Rain Subpoenas!!

A House Judiciary subcommittee approved today the first in what is expected to be an avalanche of subpoenas to Bush administration officials. They will likely explore corruption and mismanagement allegations on everything from pre-war Iraq intelligence to the mishandling of the response to Hurricane Katrina...

[gratuitous]

8. Let's wade in

This is going to be a particularly odious part of the task, rooting through the muck and mire of Republican corruption. A lot of what gets dug out isn't going to be pretty or smell very nice, but it has to be brought to the surface. And don't think for a moment that the Republicans are going to be nice about it. They'll whine and piss and moan about every little thing and fight about every little turd we fish out of their swamp.

[glitch]

45. Toxic clean up - we need superfund legislation that makes them pay for it too. nt

[libodem]

51. Well put

bravo, my friend

[philly_bob]

10. It's not the crime, it's the cover-up...

What crimes were the fired U.S. attorneys investigating?

hoo-eee!

[swwallace81]

33. Don't US Attorneys serve at the pleasure

of the president? I'm not so sure this is a minor issue. I thought the repugs made too much over Hill's firing of the travel bureau. Bush can put in anyone he wants, but why would he make a change with less than 2 years left?

[aggiesal]

69. King George recommends, the Senate approves ...

In this case, the Justice Department decided to fire 7 attorneys,
that were investigating corruption in the Republics party.
Fire them, and the investigation stops.

Then the Patriot Act states that King George can appoint fired
attorneys without approval from the Senate.

So, know they can fire at their discretion,
and have them replaced with loyalists.

[raebrek]

74. I've already heard this on the radio about Clinton firing all of the US

Attorneys when he took office. Here is a link to info on it. This one is old but I felt the least odious.

http://www.mediaresearch.org/realitycheck/1997/fax19971... So this will be the counter point the news will actually talk about. talk about sick.

Raebrek!!!

[Straight Shooter]

11. Let the sunshine in.

I'm tired of this government filled with dark, ugly secrets.

[eddy51]

12. Get it Out

Whatever has taken place the last 6 years needs to be brought out and examined by the citizens. It is to get history right. That is our mission. Don't let them tell you that it is past history and we need to move on. NO. It is important for this nation to learn from what has happened and make sure it never happens again.

[Hekate]

25. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Welcome to DU!

Hekate

[Olney Blue]

13. Investigations are good.

[cal04]

14. House panel subpoenas fired federal prosecutors

The first high-profile subpoenas of the 110th Democratic-led Congress were issued on Thursday in an investigation of the firings of at least eight federal prosecutors by the Bush administration.

With critics suggesting possible political mischief in the dismissals, a House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee subpoenaed four of the former U.S. attorneys to appear before the panel next week.

They include one who, according to a U.S. senator, has told congressional aides he believes he was ousted because he resisted pressure to indict in an investigation in New Mexico, which could have helped Republicans before the 2006 elections.

"We need to get to the bottom of whether competency in upholding the law is being sacrificed for political ideology," said Rep. Linda Sanchez (news, bio, voting record), a California Democrat and chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070302/pl_nm/usa_congress_...

[jazzjunkysue]

15. All together, now! "Amer-ica, a-mer-ica, God shed his grace on thee!

And crown thy good (finally) with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."

I haven't felt like singing a patriotic song in 7 long years.

I may learn to love my country, if this keeps up!

[joanmj]

16. High, High Time!

This is fantastic--let the truth set us free!

[Dammit Ann]

17. Now, I KNOW it has been a good day!

[Vidar]

18. Thank you, Mr. Conyers.

[VP505]

19. This has been getting

some play on NM local TV News with U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias implying he has some information he intends to reveal at the hearing. He has indicated that two members of New Mexico's congressional delegation may be involved is some dirty dealings concerning his firing and there may be a bigger story behind all 8 of their firings. This potentially could be another really embarrassing charge against the Bu$h misAdministration.

[Judi Lynn]

61. Hope to hear everything he has to say. Please post it at D.U. when he does, & if you have time. n/t

[wordpix]

77. all kinds of dirty deals with this cabal & they must answer for it! Truthout!!

[Doremus]

20. Sweet music to my ears after 6 l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g years of waiting. n/t

[oasis]

21. sweeeeeet! (eom)

[Erika]

22. Finally, Congress is living up to its oversight responsibilities!

The GOP just simply rubber stamped everything W wanted, without question. They sold us down the river for six very long years.

[Liberty Belle]

23. DUers, call CSPAN & ask them to cover this hearing!!!!

Can someone post the number, please, and an email as well?

[ClayZ]

24. Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. BUDDHA

K and R

[Raksha]

26. Great news!

I'm glad to see the Dems are finally getting down to business. Stick it to 'em, Conyers!

[diane in sf]

27. Time to throw a subpoena party soon! eom

[Up2Late]

28. David Iglesias of New Mexico already talked a bit to NPR, here's the link...

<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76... >

This is gonna get Goooooood!

[jhrobbins]

29. It's about f...ing time. At first I thought this would be a distraction and that

we would become just like 'them', but nothing is changing in the administration and maybe this is the only way to get 'his/their' attention.

[The Doctor.]

30. "No Republican lawmakers were present."

BWHAHAAHAAHAAHAAAAAA!

When Democrats were excluded, the Republicans made blatant power grabs and were 100% occupied with covering their asses.
Now Democrats are in charge and they have to clean up after these malignant bastards.

Good.

Now maybe the country will get a chance to see the light.
Hopefully the Dems will hold the media's feet to the fire.

[wordpix]

78. I caught that, too. Repukes don't want to vote for oversight so they don't show up.

How sick is that? Not surprised, tho.

[bonito]

31. Great news

[jamesinca]

32. This is doubly good

Go after the mismanagement of this country by the Republics and this is the part that is doubly good: "They will likely explore corruption and mismanagement allegations on everything from pre-war Iraq intelligence to the mishandling of the response to Hurricane Katrina." What will that do to the nothing to see or investigate here stunt that Holy Joementum Lieberman pulled in the Senate as chair of Homeland Security?

[catmandu57]

34. I've been waiting so long for this

Sic em chew these bastards up. We need to open as many fronts as possible get them chasing their tails and not knowing where to scratch. This should throw an industial strength monkey wrench into the works.

[Botany]

35. CIA, Hookers, Limos, Bribes, Hotel Room Gay Parties, Money Laundering .....

.... oh boy oh boy oh boy

[wordpix]

79. lying the US into war in Iraq, letting OBL go, cutting war veterans' benefits, Walter Reed scandal,

Katrina, incompetence, corruption, lies, lies and more lies---time to impeach!

[zippy890]

36. kick

let the hearings begin

[dkofos]

37. I was really glad to see this

no Republican lawmakers were present

[ThoughtCriminal]

38. They are going to need to add a railroad siding

Not only is there more corruption in this administration than any other in our history, I suspect that there is more corruption than all the others combined. So sad that it has taken so many years to even get started.

[Javaman]

39. I just hope for these attorney's sake they have protection. nt

[MGD]

40. I can't wait to see them start turning on one another to save their worthless hides.

Payback is a bitch.

[IWantAChange]

41. Will oversight and committee hearings by Dems get the US back on track??

The Republicons are going to have the curtain lifted after 6 excruciatingly long years of subterfuge and malfeasance - if the American public even casts a casual glance at all this I believe they will be CRUSHED come 2008.

[tanyev]

42. Ahhhhh. What a satisfying headline.

*deep cleansing breaths*

[bearfan454]

43. God Bless America

About time these fucking crooks had their feet held to the fire.

[pberq]

44. ". . .competency in upholding the law is being sacrificed for political ideology"

Let's hope they are able to follow through on this and other inquiries. Otherwise it's fascism, folks.

[Norquist Nemesis]

46. "no Republican lawmakers were present"

Out of curiosity, does anyone remember watching any hearings over the past six years (when the Cons were in the Majority) where 'no Democratic lawmakers were present'? I don't.

It's a good thing it's in the record. Otherwise the Cons would all be whining about being left out.

Go Conyers!

[Richard Steele]

64. Nope. I guess it's not newsworthy when they do it to Dems for six years.

This is very good news, though!

[Friday]

47. WooHoo!!

There are no words to describe how happy I am about this.

[seafan]

55. Welcome to DU, jimnkara! Glad you joined us. This news makes us all smile. n/t

[renate]

73. welcome to DU!

We're happy you're here!

[redqueen]

48. Finally... OVERSIGHT!

[robinlynne]

49. hang on. these are not subpoenas to bush officials at all. These are the

prosecutors who were fired by gonzalez. It is wonderful, but it is not yet a subpoena to the "administration'. The OP headline is incorrect.

[FatDave]

52. It's apparent that many more will follow

I particularly like the phrase "the first in what is expected to be an avalanche of subpoenas". That's a great visual, republicans buried in an avalanche of subpoenas.

[robinlynne]

59. but my point is they haven't subpoened ANY repubs yet. these are the good guys

who want to talk, and asked for the subpeona so they could talk about what happened.

[Up2Late]

62. Yes, but these are the people who are ordered to blow the whistle on the corrupt...

..."Republican Members of the Congress from New Mexico..." as Federal Prosecutor David Iglesias of New Mexico said. Once he's ordered to say the names of the two Members of Congress (probably Rep. Heather Wilson and Senator Pete Domenici) who called him and tried to pressure him to bring charges in a State Political contest (something very illegal), so starts the avalanche of incitements and removals.

This is going to Snow ball, the only question I have is, will the Cable "news" cover it?

[robinlynne]

70. I know. And it is grrrrrrrrrrreat1 But I want them to subpoena the crooks,

still waiting.

[seafan]

50. Cleanup, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, please.

[grateful581]

53. "avalanche of subpoenas"

Sounds good to me!

[FatDave]

54. You know what should be looked into?

Not just "if" the Iraq intel was cooked, but "why" it was cooked. The question Helen Thomas tried to ask awhile back. Why did they want this war? Let's get PNAC in the media spotlight already.

[truedelphi]

56. Hooray Hooray Hooray n/t

[Bluestar]

60. Can't wait for the hearings to begin--whoopppeeee!

[Deep13]

63. A round of subpeonas on the House!

The Rs must be suffering from subpeonas envy.

[gratefultobelib]

65. i can barely write. I'm in tears. Really, really am.

[Imperialism Inc.]

66. Excellent!

[NotGivingUp]

71. wow...stay away for a day and you miss BIG news! this is so very cool! n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

72. This is exciting

WTG Conyers!

[Tekla West]

75. About time

Now, more, more, more.

[wordpix]

76. OMG, I've been waiting for this day for 6 long, hard years. Now let's give BushCo what they deserve

[kestrel91316]

80. "....an avalanche of subpoenas to Bush administration officials...."

Congress doesn't expect any cooperation, do they? I mean, this IS the Bush administration. They serve the Second Coming of Christ. They don't answer to ANYBODY.

[wordpix]

81. no doubt there's a run on shredders in DC today

[kestrel91316]

83. And those delete buttons are getting a workout.

[L. Coyote]

82. "... whether competency in upholding the law is being sacrificed for political ideology.”

It's still important to be polite.
I'm nominating this for the Democratic Political Understatement of the Day:

"... whether competency in upholding the law is being sacrificed for political ideology.”

Go ahead and do your own impolite translations.

[sarcasmo]

84. To late to Rec so a kick for the truth.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

85. I'm glad that we won in 2006, if we hadn't......................

at least things are starting to be unravelled and the crooks will be brought to justice now?