Democrats Won't Get Justice Memo (on Texas redistricting)

[kskiska]

Texans Say Document Could Embarrass GOP

The Justice Department has formally refused a demand from Texas Democrats to release a lengthy internal memo about a Republican redistricting plan that experts believe could produce a GOP gain of as many as seven House seats in that state later this year, according to documents and officials.

The internal legal opinion, which includes a 73-page narrative and 1,750 pages of accompanying documents, is eagerly sought by 14 Democratic House members from Texas as part of their attempt to halt the GOP redistricting. The new voting map was enacted in October by the Republican-controlled Texas legislature after months of conflict, and Attorney General John D. Ashcroft cleared it in December.

The Justice Department notified the Texas lawmakers last week that it would not release internal documents on the case because they contain "predecisional deliberative material" that is exempt from public information laws, according to a copy of the letter.

The Democrats' lead attorney, J. Gerald Hebert of Alexandria, responded with an appeal to the Justice Department yesterday, alleging that career attorneys had recommended an objection to the redistricting plan, but were overruled by political appointees. Democrats argue that the Texas map violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 because it eliminates two districts in which minorities make up a majority of the voters.

"Clearly the Department of Justice is stonewalling this request to avoid the embarrassment that will surely ensue when the memorandum is made public," Hebert wrote in his appeal, which was filed with the department's Office of Information and Privacy. "Unfortunately, the political appointees of the Justice Department appear committed to dismantling the Voting Rights Act. They are hiding this report, because it will make their intentions clear."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36807-2004Jan21.html?nav=hptoc_p

[KTM]

1. Angry kick

:grr: :kick:

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Next Stop, Circuit Court

And out will it come!

Unless, that is, it gets to the SCOTUS.

--bkl

[Judi Lynn]

3. Kick!

:kick: :kick: :kick: