The "Press Releases from Senators" Thread!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

I thought it might be interesting to keep all of the reactions to the indictments in one thread- I know that I personally would love to see all of the statements from our democratic senators, and have started to collect a few press releases. (I suspect that I'm not alone in my quest for organized press-statement aggregation!)

If you happen across a press release from your senator, feel free to add it to this thread!

Thanks! :hi:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

1. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI)

http://kohl.senate.gov/~kohl/press/05/10/2005A28845.html

For Immediate Release:
October 28, 2005
Phone: [phone]


Statement of Sen. Herb Kohl on the Indictment of I. Lewis Libby by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald

These indictments of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of justice at the highest level of government are very serious. The American people have a right to expect their top officials to adhere to strict ethical and legal standards. If a court finds in this case they have not, there should and will be serious consequences.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT)

. Jim Jeffords (I-VT)

http://jeffords.senate.gov/~jeffords/press/05/10/102805...

Friday, October 28, 2005


Sen. Jeffords' Statement on Libby Indictment

Statement of Senator Jim Jeffords, I-Vt.
On the Indictment of Lewis Libby

"The indictment of Lewis Libby confirms my suspicions about how far this Administration is willing to go to defend its flawed justifications for going to war in Iraq, and to silence those who challenge their reasoning. This marks a sad time for this presidency and for our country."


-- 30 --

(Go to Press Office)

[ncrainbowgrrl]

3. Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah)

http://bennett.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=247980

Bennett on Libby Indictment


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) issued the following statement on today’s indictment of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby Jr., aide to Vice President Dick Cheney:
"If Scooter Libby actually did what he's accused of doing, it was really stupid and he deserves to lose his job. We'll find out for sure when the trial is over."

Libby was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, making false statements, and perjury in the Central Intelligence Agency leak case.


# # #

[ncrainbowgrrl]

4. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/05/10/2005A28710.html


KENNEDY REACTION TO INDICTMENT


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Laura Capps/Melissa Wagoner [phone]

Today is an ominous day for the country, signifying a new low since Watergate in terms of openness and honesty in our government. This is far more than an indictment of an individual. In effect it's an indictment of the vicious and devious tactics used by the Administration to justify a war we never should have fought. It's an indictment of the lengths Administration officials were willing to go to cover up their failed intelligence, their distortion on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and their serious blunders on the war. It is an indictment of their vindictive efforts to discredit anyone who challenge their misrepresentations.

The American people know the high cost of this misguided war -- 2,000 U.S. soldiers dead, more than 15,000 wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent with no end in sight, and a continuing shameful effort by the White House to silence those who try to tell the truth about the war. Dissent is the ultimate form of patriotism, and it's time we return to having an honest discourse in this country about changing direction and paying attention to the needs of the American people. The President should take this opportunity to do everything he can to heal the country by not interfering with the prosecution of this case or the continuing investigation, and by cleaning house at the White House to immunize the country against any further corruption and dishonesty. As the President promised, anyone still in the White House who had anything to do with this scandalous plot or the cover-up should be dismissed immediately, whether or not they have been indicted. Something has to give — America can't stand three more years of this failed Bush presidency.

[whometense]

5. John Kerry

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=247957

“Today’s indictment of the Vice President’s top aide and the continuing investigation of Karl Rove are evidence of White House corruption at the very highest levels, far from the ‘honor and dignity’ the president pledged to restore to Washington just five years ago.

“A chief architect of the war in Iraq, Scooter Libby, sworn to protect this country, used access to national security information not as weapons against our nation’s enemies, but as weapons against someone who dared to ask tough questions of a dishonest policy. Then they tried to cover it up rather than come clean with the American people, even as the President falsely claimed his Administration was cooperating with investigators. Not only was America misled into war, but a Nixonian effort to silence dissent has now left Americans wondering whether they can trust anything this Administration has to say.

“Today, almost on cue as bad news struck, the President delivered another rhetorical blast on the war on terror. But the war on terror is not a convenient political distraction, it’s a war we have to win. And to win the war on terror, we can’t afford to have senior administration officials playing political games with national security. The President needs to get serious about addressing our nation’s problems, starting by cleaning out the corruption in his Administration and then addressing the situation in Iraq, soaring gas prices, and a still sluggish economy.”

[ncrainbowgrrl]

6. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD)

http://johnson.senate.gov/%7Ejohnson/releases/200510/2005A28817.html

Contact: Julianne Fisher, Joshua Rosenblum [phone]

Statement on Today's Announcement by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald

Friday, October 28, 2005
Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) released the following statement upon hearing the announcement today from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald on the indictment of Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on two charges of perjury, two charges of making false statements and one charge of obstruction of justice:

"I want to be clear that this is an indictment, and not a conviction. The charges brought today reflect that this highly-regarded federal prosecutor thinks a member of this Administration, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, has broken the law. Our nation's legal system must and will play the role it was created for.

"This is not merely a legal matter, however, but also something that impacts our national security. If these charges are true, a senior Administration official lied about his role in a leak of the identity of a covert CIA agent to the media, possibly exposing her and her contacts to our enemies. His actions, if proven true, suggest he put politics ahead of national security, and that is clearly wrong.

"These very serious charges are related to an effort to silence a critic of the most important decision a country can make -- going to war."

[ncrainbowgrrl]

7. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

http://obama.senate.gov/press/051028-obama_statement_on_the_indictment_of_vice_president_cheneys_chief_of_staff_lewis_libby/index.html

Friday, October 28, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, [phone]
Illinois Contact: Julian Green, [phone]
Date: October 28, 2005

Obama Statement on the Indictment of Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the indictment of Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby:

"The charges against Mr. Libby are very serious as they give the appearance that this White House puts politics ahead of our national security. The primary role of government should be protecting the American people, not settling political scores. As we move forward, our attention should be focused on addressing the problems we face as a nation and not on trying to tear each other apart."

[ncrainbowgrrl]

8. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)

http://rockefeller.senate.gov/news/2005/pr102805.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2005


SENATOR ROCKEFELLER’S STATEMENT ON SPECIAL PROSECUTOR FITZGERALD’S INDICTMENT OF WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SCOOTER LIBBY


“It is a terrible day for all Americans when a top White House official is accused of lying and obstructing justice, made all the worse when it’s about a national security matter.

“Revealing the identity of a covert agent is the type of leak that gets people killed. Not only does it end the person’s career, and whatever assignments they may have been working on, it puts that person in grave personal danger as well as their colleagues and all the people they have had contact with over the years.

“These very serious charges go to the heart of whether administration officials misused intelligence by disclosing an undercover CIA agent. They also heighten concerns that the administration engaged in a pattern of misusing intelligence to make the case for going to war with Iraq.

“To date, Congress has completely failed to answer these critical questions. The fact is that at any time the Senate Intelligence Committee pursued a line of questioning that brought us close to the White House, our efforts were thwarted. If my Republican colleagues are not prepared to undertake a full and serious congressional investigation into the potential misuse of intelligence, then I regretfully conclude that we have no choice but to pursue an outside independent investigation. The American people deserve answers and they want the truth.”

“We must send a strong message to all the patriotic Americans in our intelligence agencies who continue to serve their country at great personal risk. Our government and our judicial system will not tolerate those who leak classified information and put the lives of others at risk.”
###

[ncrainbowgrrl]

9. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO)

http://salazar.senate.gov/news/releases/051028libbycia.htm

For Immediate Release
October 27, 2005
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary
202-228-3630
Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary
303-455-7600

Sen. Salazar’s Statement on Mr. Libby’s Indictment
Washington, D.C. – “It is a sad day for our government institutions. These are serious charges. People in high-level positions of the Federal Government have high-level responsibilities. Any use of National Security information for political gain is unacceptable. If these charges are true it is a serious breach of responsibility by someone in such an important position.”

# # #

[ncrainbowgrrl]

10. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR41940.Indictment.10.28.05.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2005

SCHUMER REACTS TO INDICTMENT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT’S CHIEF OF STAFF


“It is stunning to see someone so close to the President and Vice President indicted for lying to a grand jury and trying to cover up a national security leak.

“These are very serious charges. Clearly the obstruction of justice charge suggests that Mr. Libby was trying to prevent the prosecutor from finding out the truth.

“These allegations have yet to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, but we should expect better from people who serve the President in the White House.

“What is most disappointing is that it took a special prosecutor to uncover these facts. The President should have taken care of this long ago. I hope as we move forward he will do what it takes to remove anyone else who was involved in these leaks, whether they are indicted or not, and make certain it never happens again.

“There was an attitude in the White House that anyone who believed differently from the prevailing wisdom should be treated with the harshest of methods, including in this case, even possibly breaking the law.

“We hope that, whatever the outcome of the trial, the White House will learn from this sorry episode and understand that dissent both inside and outside the White House makes America better and stronger.

“We continue to have tremendous faith in Prosecutor Fitzgerald and expect that he will continue his investigation with the same even-handedness, fairness, and thoroughness to bring to justice anyone else who has broken the law.”