USDA Shuts Down Congressional Audit

[Robbien]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Agriculture Department abruptly ordered congressional auditors to leave its headquarters and told its employees not to cooperate with them.

"You are hereby instructed not to meet with any member of the (Government Accountability Office) today, or until this matter is resolved," Michael Watts, a top USDA attorney, wrote to employees Wednesday in an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press.

The auditors were seeking information for an ongoing audit on Agriculture's office of civil rights and its handling of discrimination complaints. Specifically, they were investigating allegations that the department had previously provided false information for the audit.
. . .

"We are not interested in having our employees potentially put themselves at risk when they have not yet been advised of their rights and when we were not allowed to provide counsel," Kelly said. "We also pointed out to them that while they hold themselves out to be criminal investigators, GAO is an arm of Congress and has no authority to investigate violations of criminal law."



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jmMDqqS37QeJR2uBIwSO...

---

Bush's man Kelly claiming executive privilege it appears. Congress GAO cannot investigate a Federal dept?

[Supersedeas]

1. sounds like an admission that they know CRIMES have been committed

[ixion]

3. yep, it sure does

[gratuitous]

2. And here I thought that people who hadn't done anything wrong

Had nothing to hide. Perhaps I was misinformed? Or does that retarded aphorism apply only to us peons, and not to our exalted Republican masters?

[rasputin1952]

27. That's the R mantra..."If yu've done nothing wrong...

you have nothing to fear".

Until an investigation comes along that might expose fraud, abuse, discrimination...I guess you don't have to follow laws if you're in the bush pockets...laws are only for the "little people"...LIKE CITIZENS!!!!!

[f the letter]

75. Right, and this is not like wiretapping or unreasonable searches,

this is the GAO doing what it's supposed to do to government offices.

[rasputin1952]

78. Precisely...this administration believes that laws do not have

any bearing on what they do. They believe themselves to be above the law, and that is the Hallmark of corruption.

[Eurobabe]

4. What tasty treats have they been cooking up for the US public?

Mad cow, with a touch of bird flu, garnished with a hint of hoof and mouth disease?

[bluesmail]

33. don't forget the cloning

[Divernan]

5. Sounds like the investigators got too close to Bush's political appointees

Can't have the regular civil service employees explaining that illegal actions were performed on the direct orders of a Bush appointee.

[jhain]

6. Have to order more medals:

[Thor_MN]

57. Who would ever turn their back on that sociopath while he's hold a garrote?

[loudsue]

73. That picture always reminds me of the hangman's noose.

I guess bush just reminds me of an executioner.

[liberal N proud]

7. The cronies have become very arrogant

They can violate the law and know they don't have to answer to anyone. They are protected under the bu$h doctrine of crime pays.

[femrap]

8. Mother of God...

Has anything like this happened before???

Cronies and their crimes...all I have to say is that if the next administration is Dem, I want ALL of the criminals in the W regime to be investigated, indicted, tried, and imprisoned....hopefully Iran-Contra taught them something.

I WANT JUSTICE.

[Robbien]

10. The article states Cheney also kicked them out

the GAO sued

and lost.

[femrap]

54. And Pelosi is still running

around threatening little Harriet Meiers and Josh Bolton. We are no longer a land of laws. At least there's Karma. And Contempt of Congress is only a misdemeanor???

When GAO sued...who decided the case? Can they appeal or was it the Supreme Court?

[defendandprotect]

62. Stop their paychecks until they respond ---

Meanwhile, this is the Democratic Congress we're counting on to STOP the war in Iraq --- ???

They are --- if anyone has noticed --- been made to look like idiots ---

While Cheney is now King of the Hill ---

Disgusting --- !!!

[femrap]

80. This lack of spine regarding Impeachment

will hurt them in the upcoming election. Looking back thru US history, every party that brought Impeachment won the next Prez election.

I, personally, cannot get too caught up in this election. Kerry losing nearly killed me....I must remain realistic and not become too invested in the outcome....I believe it's time to plan for a financially bad future and spend time on that.

I thought Edwards was are only chance. But the stupid Americans have been brainwashed by the constant repetition of 'TRIAL LAWYERS ARE BAD...DON'T TRUST THEM.'

My new mantra that I must keep repeating....'IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL.'

[Lasher]

69. GAO sued to get information regarding Cheney's Energy Task Force

Unfortunately, the GAO lawsuit resulted in a stinging defeat for the GAO when a federal district court in Washington, D.C., accepted the Administration's argument that the GAO has no standing to bring a lawsuit to enforce a subpoena against anyone in the executive branch. The GAO, possibly influenced by the Republican congressional majority, chose not to appeal, leaving on the books a decision that may have a crippling effect on the GAO's power to assist Congress in overseeing executive branch activities.

http://www.bushsecrecy.org/page.cfm?PagesID=27&ParentID...

The Sierra Club and Judicial Watch sued to force the White House to release information but the Supreme Court ruled against them. Remember, that was the case where 'Quack Quack' Scalia refused to recuse himself.

[femrap]

79. I had forgotten about about the 'quack quack'

event. This evil cabal is turning the US into the Old Soviet Union...and I fear the worst is yet to come.

The number of crimes they have committed is beyond comprehension. The Dems are complicit.

edit for spelling

[progressoid]

9. They really have no shame or ethics do they?

[pscot]

11. What the fuck?

When will the Congress stand up for itself?

[MsLeopard]

12. I've just about given up hope they will act at all

Congress has stood by through this entire national nightmare and done nothing. My hopes were so high in Nov 06 - but now I think the leadership is simply part of the cabal. Complicit in the crimes and We the People are screwn.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

15. I'll second that WTF?!

That's what handcuffs are for. Use 'em!

[wolfgangmo]

70. If there is one thing I learned in Government...

... it is easier to apologize after the fact, rather than ask for permission.


Cuff em', deny them contact and phone calls, water board them.



Crap. Has it come to this. That I am willing to deny the constitution in order to protect it?



Maybe, and for anyone who knows me, that means that things have gotten bad.

[Imagine My Surprise]

24. When pigs fly out of my ass n/t

[NikolaC]

38. Too Busy

investigating steroids and Roger Clemmens .

[SpiralHawk]

13. "We are republicon cronies, and thus doing a heckuva job." - USDA

"...to enrich other republicon cronies and screw the American public. Smirk."

- USDA

[LiberalFighter]

14. The Destroyer needs to be resurrected

And Dr Smith gives the order to "punish" these miscreants.

[PurgedVoter]

16. Won't work.

Dr. Smith took orders from the president, and they were happy to work outside the Constitution. On the other hand, the first time that * made up a nickname for or tried to short the pay due the Master of Sinanju, things would change.

[LiberalFighter]

19. Dr Smith didn't always take orders from the President

It was up to Smith to decide in most cases what to do.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

17. This seems appropriate

[foxeyes2]

18. I would want a lawyer present

Look if my place of employment is being investigated for potential wrong doing especially criminal wrong doing and I am one of a few people being interviewed than you better damn well believe I want to have a lawyer present to protect my rights even if I have done nothing wrong.

[Shakespeare]

32. There's no indication they couldn't have asked for their attorneys to be present.

The DEPARTMENT through them out en masse. HUGE difference.

[raebrek]

77. This from the article

The auditors refused to allow USDA lawyers to be present for the interviews, and after allowing one employee to talk, department officials stopped the interviews and told the investigators to leave the building, Kelly said.

Raebrek!!!

Sorry, This was a reply to #32 but I am to lazy to repost it. Sorry about that.

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. Is it time to throw this wingnut line back in their face?

If you don't have anything to hide, what's the problem?

[Speciesamused]

21. Bush Administration Attitude.

Across the board. We don't
answer to anyone. Get out.

[frog92969]

37. Trickle down politics.

And the piss runs right down into Main Street.

We need to cut the head off the snake.

-Metaphorically speaking.

[DFW]

22. How very odd

When the Clinton Administration was in place, the Republicans
assumed investigative powers that would have made the Spanish
Inquisition green with envy, Yet when they are themselves the
objects of an inquiry, they lock themselves up tighter than a
sultan's harem.

[Squatch]

23. The GAO exists so that Congress can ensure that the Executive Branch

is abiding by the law (to include appropriations of money and authorization for projects) that they enact.

While the GAO might not be able to conduct criminal investigations, it sure as hell indicate that required audits were not complied with. Since the power of the purse still resides with Congress, they can deauthorize programs and funds as an incentive for the USDA to comply.

But, we know that's not going to happen.

/do-nothing Congress, and all that.

[Sam Ervin jret]

25. The no play no pay rule sounds right to me.

If the audits were not complied with that is evidence of financial wrong doing and THAT call for a criminal investigation.

If they can "forget" to pay the phone company for a while then they can sure as hell "forget" to pay these program officials until this is addressed.

If they complain that this is not fair or legal, they can call their congress person.

[rasputin1952]

26. WTF....This is a congressional investigation! The USDA has

no right to subvert congressional authority.

That lawyer should be arrested for obstructing an investigation.

[Hekate]

28. That's what allowing a Unitary Executive gets you--a neutered Congress.

Gods -- I want my country back.

Hekate

[katandmoon]

29. Holy crap...as a retired Fed, I recall GAO investigators being treated like GODS

If they ever came around looking into anything we were instructed to bend over as far forward as we could go. GAO even had their own office on the premises. This was under both Repug and Dem administrations (I retired early in the Bush admin.).

[frog92969]

34. The old gods become the new devils.

Story as old as man.

Congress ("The Peoples House") brought this on themselves, and us.
They let a blatantly criminal Blight House walk all over them year after year with barely a serious complaint, nobody in their right mind would take them seriously.

One more power hungry president and they could disappear completely.
I guess Congress is bad for business.

[Beartracks]

50. That's what I've heard from people, too...

>...we were instructed to bend over as far forward as we could go...

And to not expect a thank you afterwards.

[L0oniX]

30. smoke ...fire ...more repuke crimes. I am used to it now.

[brentspeak]

31. Hey, Michael Watts: you work for US, not Bush

[daa]

35. Come on dems

Cut their funding.

[Gman]

36. It never friggin' ends

[bjobotts]

39. How dare the accountability office try to hold anybody accountable!

[Beartracks]

59. That's just the Bush modus operandi...

... Do as they please, trivialize any legit grievances.

No Accountability

[Vilis Veritas]

40. The stage is being dismantled...there is no illusion anymore.

Those in power are flaunting their control. 250 million people just yawn and turn the channel because they might miss their favorite show.

"..there is always soma, delicious soma, half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon..."

Brave New World
Aldous Huxley

[defendandprotect]

64. I'm of the opinion that Bush/Cheney say to one another every day . .. "Don't worry, they'll

never do anything --- !!"

[Vilis Veritas]

82. I don't think they even need to say it...

Peace.

[Laelth]

41. I've got a serious case of outrage fatigue.

I know I should be hopping mad about this. Part of me is, but another part of me just shrugs this off as "par for the course."

I am, I suppose, mad at myself that I'm not more mad about this blatant abuse of executive power.



-Laelth

[Green Mountain Dem]

42. Remember the old....

typing excercise.."Now is the time for every good man to come to the aid of his country"...it's no longer an exercise!! The Rule of Law has become a laughing matter and is now an "In your face", we decide... what the fuck are you going to do about it?

When Congress continues to capitulate, we continue to lose our individual rights, freedoms and any semblance of checks and balances on the Executive and Judicial Branches of OUR Government!

We have been living a nightmare for 8 years and nothing changes...it just continues like the Energizer Bunny and the only ones laughing are the 25-30% who support this administration. When does the Sleeping Giant awake and take back our Country? Do we even have a country to take back?

My friends...My countrymen...WHAT WILL IT TAKE??

[The Wizard]

53. What will it take?

Try ten dollars a gallon gas for starters.
If this were France there would be a national strike, but we're a nation of lazy slugs.

[KatyaR]

43. When are we not going to let these people get away with this shit?

I'm am so SICK of reading about crap like this day in, day out--when are our Democratic leaders going to stand up and say, "ENOUGH!!!"

[Amonester]

58. I stand with you. But I think the answer is...

"The day we'll have 'a lot more' elected Dems in Congress."

Sadly, I am afraid to think this won't happen soon (election frauds & co).

[defendandprotect]

65. Like "blue dog" Democrats . .. ???

[frog92969]

68. No.na.n.n.n.no.no.......No!

They must be flushed down the toilet with the official repugs, and replaced with real democrats. No more DLC illusion.

[indepat]

44. Gee, if only the Congress had authority to withhold appropriations from those

who hold themselves unaccountable.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

45. can they legally do that?

[lovuian]

46. Wow another Agency goes wrong No Accountability

its going on and on

[slutticus]

47. And why shouldn't they shut it down?

Who's going to stop them?


Maybe if they were suspected of using growth hormone or steroids (on themselves...not cows) there would be some serious Congressional muscle put forth. They may even force people under oath!

[parkeradison]

48. Agriculture Department audit

What next lurks behind curtains of the Bush Administration?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

49. k n r

[The Wizard]

51. A prerequsite for getting

appointed by Bush is the will to commit crimes and lie with a straight face. Prior criminal convictions are also a plus.
If it's not immunity for corporations, it's willful avoidance of subpoenas and all inquiry. Somebody needs to be water boarded or given a hot lead enema.

[ashling]

52. Of course not !

First they have to get retroactive immunity.

[Historic NY]

55. The GAO may not have the power but congress can cut off..

their funds until they cooperate........WTF do they think they are, they must submit to the elected authority or risk losing the purse strings. If Nanny Nancy & Weak Harry had any fortitude they would immediately close them down lock, stock and barrel. The USDA is not doingtheir job any way with the recalls and uninspected meat, our food chains depends upon a bunch of non performing political hacks. Shut them down Nancy & Harry

[Diclotican]

56. Robbien

Robbien

This is bad, but believe me, the truth about this fascist regime of your, will come out sooner or later.. And then I would not be in the pants of the criminals who have been hijacked the US for so long time..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad English, not my native language

[defendandprotect]

60. Didn't one of the original heads of the GAO resign in protest over other issues?

Where there's smoke there's fire . . . and there's a terrific amount of smoke coming out of this
Bush/Cheney administration ----

This is outrageous and there should be an immediate legal response --- !!!

[nam78_two]

61. I am SO sick of these people

Can they do this?

K&R too...

[defendandprotect]

63. IF they leave town, will they PARDON all of the USDA . . . ????

[Connonym]

66. This falls under the same type of irony as the govt being exempt from OSHA regulations

I worked for the USPS for 10 years and I can't tell you how many blatant OSHA violations we endured because one government agency doesn't have power over another. In the case of the USPS and OSHA, OSHA guidelines were merely "suggestions" and OSHA had no power to fine or otherwise penalize for not following the rules.

[Mozcram]

67. HMMMMMM.....

Sounds like they are in major defense mode!
wonder what craziness they've been up to?

[GTurck]

71. I don't understand...

What is the GAO if not the arm of Congress that investigates all parts of the government for corruption, malfeasance, etc.? When did this cease to be?
I guess nobody in the Executive Branch has to answer to Congress but then maybe Congress doesn't have to fund them either.

[f the letter]

72. That is a fairly stark admission they are criminals

Trouble.

[Summer93]

74. USDA no longer useful to We the People

This is just another nail in the coffin for the people of America. I am more sure than ever to choose to eat a vegan diet. I want to protect myself from the lack of the USDA. It appears both the treatment of beef cattle and the inclusion of sick cattle into the meat going to store and the sell date does not matter at local grocery stores. When meat is going bad on or before the sell date we need to take notice.

My neighbor began last year by raising his on beef. Now he knows first hand what goes into it and how it is taken care of. Smart man!

[Orsino]

76. Well, well, well.

Someone touched a nerve.

[kestrel91316]

81. THey are probably trying to cover up the fact that they have knowingly

let BSE-infected beef enter the human food supply.

Just my humble opinion.