Breaking: Goodling granted immunity.

[babylonsister]

Source: House Judiciary Committee

Breaking: Goodling granted immunity.

The House Judiciary Committee voted moments ago to grant immunity to Monica Goodling — former counsel to Alberto Gonzales and the Justice Department’s liaison to the White House — and issue a subpoena compelling her to testify. Yesterday, fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias said he believes that Goodling holds the “keys to the kingdom” in terms of uncovering the roots of the U.S. Attorney purge:

I think Monica Goodling is holding the keys to the kingdom. I think if they get her to testify under oath with a transcript, and have her describe the process between the information flow between the White House counsel, White House and the Justice Department, I believe the picture becomes a lot clearer.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/24/iglesias-matthews/

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/25/breaking-goodling-given-immunity/

[CabalPowered]

1. Yea!

Kick!

:bounce:

[BOSSHOG]

2. Not to be nitpicky but

the immunity deal does not give her immunity from perjuring herself right? After all we are dealing with a god fearing, life loving, patriotic christian conservative lunatic. And, worst of all, relative to honesty and integrity, she was a member of the most criminal and incompetent administration in the history of the country.

The first time she says "I can't recall" I'd have her drug away in handcuffs.

[babylonsister]

3. I think the immunity is to allow her to tell the truth; she could be Gonzo's,

and this admin's, worst nightmare if she doesn't have the cloud of jail time hanging over her head.
And she might just be intimidated enough to tell the truth. What a concept!

[wake.up.america]

77. Put her in the joint , and tell her you can't recall where the keys are.

[Bake]

4. Not perjury immunity.

Immunity only as to criminal acts she may or may not have committed in the past and about which she is to testify. If she lies while testifying, all bets are off.

Bake

[cascadiance]

5. It would seem that either perjury or obstruction of justice...

... should still be something they could charge her with. If she comes clean and doesn't hold anything back or distract us with meaningless crap, she should go free and we can subsequently hang the rest of them.

Maybe she'll try to claim the 5th and rationalize that if she tells the truth that she then fears for her life if she does so and instead of using the notion of not incriminating herself, she's pleading the fifth in order to keep her life...

I wouldn't put it past these f'ers to have that threat over her, or for her to try and use that sort of defense. And then the Rethugs will try to rationalize that we don't have any proof that they are threatening her life so therefore we can't do anything towards them. That would be the Rovian thing to do!

[loudsue]

31. She's going to have a case of republican amnesia..."I don't recall"

will be the answer to every question posed to her. Repervlikins are one big criminal mafia, and they're going to destroy this country any way they possibly can.

NOT ONE republican cares about this democracy. ALL they care about is the republican party stealing elections. They are all fascist foot soldiers.

:kick::kick::kick:

[valerief]

56. LOL! Repervlikins! How apropos! nt

[JDPriestly]

73. She would not need immunity to testify "I don't recall."

She made a deal here. The immunity deal was very likely the idea of HER lawyers. This is good news even if Monica is not entirely forthcoming. If she doesn't carry out her end of the deal in good faith, she will have trouble enforcing her agreement later on.

The interesting thing is that she requested immunity based on the 5th Amendment. In state court in a civil case, the person seeking to invoke the 5th has to reveal to some limited extent the grounds on which they are invoking it. There has to be some genuine fear of at least being accused of a criminal act.

Think of a defendant (such as O.J.) who has been acquitted of a murder charge. That defendant cannot plead the 5th in a subsequent civil case because he or she cannot be convicted based on his or her testimony in a later civil case.

[LiberalFighter]

46. Especially if Cheney is the one that threatens her face to face

[The Doctor.]

70. Nope.

She cannot take the fifth because it's only self-incrimination that applies and she's been alleviated of that.

The "I fear for my life" defense won't work either because she is too high-profile and they can protect her.

They can also pull the immunity at any time if she fails to properly cooperate.

[Usrename]

83. The Ollie North approach seems much more likely.

Didn't he get an immunity agreement and then lie and say that the whole Iran/Contra affair was solely his own idea? What if she testifies that it was all her own idea and that no one ever spoke to her about it? Doesn't that give everyone legal cover?

We know Ollie was lying back when he did it, yet he also got away with it completely, he has his own tv show now and all. Why wouldn't they try this again? It worked once before, didn't it? Or is my memory too foggy about what happened?

[cascadiance]

85. But if the exception is that she can be charged with perjury, do you think she'd do it then?

I don't think she'd want to put herself on the fire like that. It sounds like there are potentially too many "roving" emails out there that might do her in if she went that route!

[Usrename]

87. For some reason, that did not matter in Oliver North's case.

Although he was convicted and sentenced, his conviction was later overturned on the basis of his limited immunity for his public testimony. Or at least that is what I can recall.

The fact that he lied during his public testimony (in your face lies that were obscenely false) did not seem to matter in the end. It's difficult for me to muster any faith or trust in a bunch of folks that say it's a bad idea to impeach Cheney. I can only hope that they aren't just going for a replay of the Ollie North scenario.

[Roland99]

18. My setiments exactly. I wouldn't be surprised for her to offer up nothing.

[robinlynne]

36. exactly. she does not ahve immunity for perjury, but does have immunity from being prosecuted for

the crimes she will be talking about under oath.

[TechBear_Seattle]

49. It is strictly a 5th Amendment thing

The Fifth Amendment guarantees that a person can not be forced to incriminate himself. If a person is promised that they will not incriminate themselves (ie is given immunity from prosecution), then they can be forced to speak because it is no longer self-incrimination.

That is the extent of immunity. Other criminal acts, such as perjury, are not covered.

[stubtoe]

64. Best thing I've heard all day! She can't get out of it then.

:)

[TechBear_Seattle]

75. That is my understanding

If you might incriminate yourself, you can not be forced to testify. If the threat of self-incrimination is removed, you can be forced to testify whether you want to or not, and you will face obstruction if you refuse to testify. Once given immunity, you can not plead the Fifth.

[NewJeffCT]

66. I heard an attorney on this before

and, he said that the negotations over something like this are likely very intense and everything - right down to every last dotting of the "i"s and crossing of the "t"s and every comma and period - is a point of contention and argument.

So, it is likely that the Senate wanted a very narrow immunity, while Goodling's lawyers wanted a blanket immunity, and the negotiations were to see if the Senate would compromise in their immunity language/scope, etc.

[Benhurst]

6. ...

Recommended #8 :bounce:

[AndyA]

7. There are those who believe Monica has the dirt on everyone.

She could do a lot of damage to the Bush Administration.

She should probably avoid trips on small planes, and remain in the company of those she trusts.

[goclark]

8. My thoughts exactly ~ stay in the company of friends

at all times.


Wise words.

[KansDem]

59. Remember these words from "Three Days of the Condor?"

It will happen this way. You may be walking. Maybe the first sunny day of the spring. And a car will slow beside you, and a door will open, and someone you know, maybe even trust, will get out of the car. And he will smile, a becoming smile. But he will leave open the door of the car and offer to give you a lift..."
:scared:

Wikiquote


I wish her the best in bringing the truth to light.

[SharonRB]

13. Exactly what I was just going to say

I hate to see her get off, but if her testimony puts this criminal gang away it's a small price to pay.

And I love that her name is Monica. Karma sucks, doesn't it? (No pun intended.)

[robinlynne]

37. I think she is so loyal to her party that she will never tell the truth.

[krkaufman]

81. Right. And since she came out of Regent University, it is likely ...

... that she equates Bush to Jesus, and would see offering testimony against his Administration as testifying to put Jaysus-himself into jail.

I don't expect much will ever come from witness testimony -- until documents are uncovered that pin the guilt on someone.

[thereismore]

40. Hehehe. Good one. nt

[LiberalFighter]

47. As long as it SUCKS the life out of those crooks

[Janice325]

84. Darn, Sharon.

You beat me to the "Monica" and "Karma" reference.:rofl:
Kinda funny, huh?
I hope "Karma" bites all these asshole thugs in their collective butts!

[liberal N proud]

9. I just want to see her blue dress

Metaphorically speaking of course.
But I imagine she looks quite good in a blue dress.

[snappyturtle]

10. I think it's unfortunate that the House Judiciary Committee

had to grant immunity to one of the players. However, if this grant allows the truth to come out and it better, then we're better off. If nothing enlightening ensues we'll know we've been had.

[hang a left]

29. She had to make some kind of proffer of what she was going to

be able to tell them. I think anyway before they gave her immunity. Or is she going to be a hostile witness? Why would they have to subpoena her?

[snappyturtle]

34. Bet you're right on the pro-offer part.......

but considering the lying nest she's flown out of I don't particularly trust her in the first place.

[Jackpine Radical]

79. I'm perfectly happy to see small fry like Monica get immunity.

It's the big fish I care about. She's just a little twerp of no significance, a mediocre graduate of a contemptible law program, a water carrierwhose only significance s that she was a witness to, and participant in, crimes far greater and more evil than anything her small, Jesus-addled mind could have conceived.

[bluestateguy]

11. Immunity for Monica

Oh, if it could just be 1998 again.

[lovuian]

12. Well now Monica will probably remember what Gonzo

forgot...

[Pachamama]

14. What were the votes?

Just curious how the Repukes voted.....

[kestrel91316]

15. Now she will confess to being the mastermind, and everybody else in

the office is pure as the driven snow.

[L. Coyote]

16. NOW, Do you swear to tell the TRUTH?? K&R. X-posted:

This will be more interesting soon.

X-POST: Email-Gate FACTS: Felons, georgewbush.com, gwb43.com , et. al.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=523978&mesg_id=523978

[kestrel91316]

17. She's a LOYALIST. She will implicate NO ONE ELSE. Just watch.

[DURHAM D]

24. I'm with you - she won't throw anyone under the bus.

Without charges hanging over her head she won't have a thing to say.

[oldtime dfl_er]

26. You're right

If Scooter wouldn't do it, she certainly won't. She's drunk a lot more Kool aid than he ever did.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/2880185

[bleever]

28. Immunity is revoked if she doesn't testify truthfully.

Gonzo's "I don't recall" gambit will not work here.

[DURHAM D]

45. The only "truth" they have is what comes out of her mouth.

The "I don't recall game" will not work for her but she can affirmatively tell a lie and without the emails nothing will/can be done about it.

[bleever]

52. It's definitely

gonna be interesting.

[kestrel91316]

54. Her memory will fail her, just like Scooter Libby and Gonzo. Just watch.

[hang a left]

32. I am not so sure she can do that.

Not with the information they already have about Miers' involvement.

[LiberalFighter]

50. Questions that they should bring up to thwart any attempt on her part to lie...

Her college education and the type of college.

Let her lie and then put it in the minds of the public that Regent University is corrupt.

[donco6]

78. I agree, and she's a fundie to boot. n/t

[speedoo]

19. Monica, Monica, Monica!!!

(Sorry, could not resist.)

A ****job for one, a witness to treason for the other!

[Patsy Stone]

20. I am so glad to hear this!

I think she has a lot of things to tell us.

[malachi]

21. How can she not tell the truth? I mean she graduated from not one,

but two Xtian colleges, Messiah and Regent. The later started by none other than that great Xtian leader, Pat Robertson. Don't Xtians always tell the truth?

[malachi]

22. How can she not tell the truth? I mean she graduated from not one,

but two Xtian colleges, Messiah and Regent. The later started by none other than that great Xtian leader, Pat Robertson. Don't Xtians always tell the truth?

[Sapere aude]

38. Easy, use the Reagan defense, "I don't recall". The are all doing that.

[NewJeffCT]

68. I am hopeful they have something in the immunity grant that covers that

the "I don't recall" type of stuff.

see my post above, as I heard an attorney on air recently saying that the negotiations over immunity in these types of situations are likely very detailed and very intense and every last dotting of an "i" and crossing of a "t" is negotiated over...

[Maestro]

23. Fry Gonzo, fry!

She better not obstruct justice now that she has immunity.

[skip fox]

27. Far too dangerous. Even a Republican lawyer knows that.

At least I hope.

[ClassWarrior]

25. House Grants Goodling Immunity

Source: New York Sun

WASHINGTON (AP) - A House committee voted Wednesday to grant immunity to Monica Goodling, a key aide to Attorney General Gonzales during the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. She had refused to testify, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

The 32-6 vote by the House Judiciary Committee surpassed the 2/3 majority required to grant a witness immunity from prosecution. A separate vote to authorize a Ms. subpoena for Goodling passed by voice vote.

Democrats said the votes were necessary tools to force into the open the story of why the prosecutors were fired and whether they were singled out to influence corruption cases.

The votes instruct a House lawyer to seek an immunity grant from a federal court. The grant would not take effect unless Chairman Representative John Conyers, Democrat of Michigan, chooses to issue Ms. Goodling a subpoena compelling her to testify, Mr. Conyers said...

Read more: http://www.nysun.com/article/53211

---

NGU.

[Na Gael]

30. To grant Immunity

Is she basically admitting that she was aware illegal activity occured? It sure sounds that way to me.
Why else would someone seek immunity from prosecution?

I hope she recorded everything.

[Mz Pip]

33. She won't give up anyone

Her testimony will be so weak that one will wonder why she bothered to take the 5th and seek immunity. This is another smoke and mirrors play.

We get all excited thinking this woman will dish some dirt on BushCo. She is BushCo and any dirt she dishes will be on low level staffers who are not in the least significant. I suspect she truly believes she has the moral duty to protect these assholes above all else. The end justifies the means. I don't trust her to be a good Christian and tell the truth. Not when the truth will destroy so much of what people like her are committed to.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

35. They stick together like glue. I think you maybe right

[Roy]

88. I am skeptical as well.... too easy......

Plead the fifth before anyone show any interest in asking you questions???? what's up with that.

Hope they did like Law and Order where they hear what you have to say before they grant immunity.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

39. *'s

[derby378]

41. I hope she's the Linda Kasabian of the Bush administration

Kasabian was the Charles Manson disciple who turned state's evidence. Her testimony was that she was present at the Tate/LaBianca murders but did not actually participate, even apologizing tearfully to some of the victims as they were killed. Some folks may still believe that she got away with murder, but a conviction may have been harder to obtain without Kasabian's testimony.

[lonestarnot]

42. This week keeps getting better and better.

[thereismore]

43. I have high hopes for this girl. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but

I think if she is a Christian, and swears by "so help me God", she will tell the truth. If she turns out to be just a phony "Christian" republican, I'll eat crow. But I have hopes for her right now.

[EVDebs]

44. The key testimony re Carol Lam's firing. The CIA/GOP money pipeline

via fronts like MZM, which Waxman is subpoenaing the White House for now, is the obstruction of justice that WILL get the corrupt crew impeached. Monica should have testified alone; now she will never be able to work in government again and will certainly get her law license yanked.

Oddly, the only one in Watergate to retain a law license was Gordon Strachan, whom I believe had ties to our CIA, one of the inside the WH staff that H R Haldemann speculated on as being connected to the CIA (and Alexander Butterfield, the revealer of the taping system, is also a suspected CIA'er in the Nixon WH).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12634250/

"It's all part of a growing ongoing investigation into corruption in defense and intelligence contracts, which already has sent former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham to prison and, legal sources say, may threaten others in Congress and the CIA. "

We've been there before, we must start learning from history !

[msanthrope]

48. That must have been one hell of a proffer----

A note on process:

You don't get immunity without a proffer---i.e., a (usually sworn) statement of what you would testify to, if you had immunity. (The proffer can't be used 'against' you in most cases.)

In Goodling then testifies not in accord with the proffer, then she can be charged with perjury, lying to investigators, obstruction, conspiracy--there's a host of charges.....

But what Ms. Goodling is probably playing for is her law license.....she's got to consider that she needs to keep it.

[MasterDarkNinja]

51. Woo Hoo, I hope this reveals a lot of really damaging stuff

If she doesn't tell the truth then she'll be breaking the law, I hope she's pressured into telling them a bunch of really damaging stuff about the administration.

[IsItJustMe]

53. Long over due. Glad to see the Dems getting some smarts about em so we can get to the bottom of

this swamp.

[LibDemAlways]

55. If she is going to do any significant truth-telling she'd better

arrange to be placed in protective custody first. The Bush Crime Family won't tolerate a turncoat.

[okieinpain]

57. imho, that was dumb. this woman is not going to roll over bush

admin, she's a freakin bushie. all she is going to do is pull an ollie, and give them nothing. they should have subpoena her ass, and make her take the 5th in front of the whole nation.

[Solly Mack]

58. I'll wait and see

been there, seen immunity granted before...no real consequences came of it

[HCE SuiGeneris]

60. Who's gotta match?

Time for a little dancing... "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozc70JPGRMQ

[Demeter]

61. I Am Willing To Wait and See

I trust John Conyers' judgment.

In fact, I think Conyers is doing this to bust the whole game wide open, so that Nancy Pelosi decides it's time to put impeachment on the table.

I think John Conyers has enough experience and ethics to not get screwed over by Monica.

I am quietly hopeful.

And I bet that there was a call out to NASA for some of those diapers--stat.


Why else would Cheney come out of his bunker to snarl, and interrupt his politcal socializing for a press conference? These crooks are beginning to feel the walls closing in. Except for the Bubble Boy, who will never reach a sufficient level of awareness to feel any kind of fear.

[jamesinca]

69. Very timely I would say

Considering the impeachment put forward by Mr. Kucinich yesterday, then this today. I love a virtually seamless process!!! I hope Mr Kucinich or some other member of the house is prepared to add additional articles of impeachment.

[Miss Chybil]

82. I'm hopeful, as well.

I'm not holding my breath... but, I'm hopeful.

[tomp]

90. has conyers yet subpoenaed the rnc email servers?

i'm not sure that shows especially good judgment.

[rateyes]

62. I am PRAYING that when she testifies that she...

wears a BLUE DRESS to the hearing!!

Monica II

[truthisfreedom]

63. I wonder what they're talking about in the Oval Office today?

[guitar man]

65. whoopsie, somebody's

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[madrchsod]

67. "i don`t remember"

"i do not recall what happened in the meeting" we will she if the good christian tells the truth

[progressoid]

71. Remember what they taught you in law school..."Thou shalt not bear false witness"

[Marnieworld]

76. Yes but it was Regent University

You can't assume anything was taught there besides Biblical law.

[lies and propaganda]

72. is this fucking Survivor?

Will she not get kicked off next week?

[Generator]

74. Squeal like a pig, baby!

Your country needs you!

[IndianaGreen]

80. Goodling will lie to protect the White House like Fawn Hall lied to protect Ollie North

People that graduated from that fundie law school, Regency, are convinced that they are doing Jesus' work in carrying out the orders of GAWD's Anointed One, George W Bush. They are convinced that Jesus put Bush in the White House as part of some grandiose divine plan, and that those that are critics of the regime are GAWD's enemies.

[rusty charly]

86. What a shining paragon on Fundementalist Christofascist education!

Taking the fifth! Requiring immunity from criminal activity at the highest levels of our justice system! Lovely! All ten commandments wrapped up in a beatiful fluffy little blonde puffball!

[Marie26]

89. Good

It seems like this is why she claimed the Fifth in the first place. W/immunity, she can now tell the truth about the unethical, and illegal, activities that went on in the DOJ & White House.