GOP Senators Misled (by * admin) on Prosecutor

[babylonsister]

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/041707a.html

GOP Senators Misled on Prosecutor

By Richard L. Fricker
April 18, 2007

The Bush administration fed Republican senators misleading talking points that hailed the prosecutorial experience of interim Little Rock U.S. Attorney J. Timothy Griffin, although the protégé of White House political adviser Karl Rove appears never to have actually tried a criminal case.



The Justice Department and White House sent talking points and other information to Congress stressing the 38-year-old Griffin’s “significant experience as a federal prosecutor at both the Department of Justice and as a military prosecutor.” Republican senators then echoed those assessments of Griffin as a seasoned professional.

But an examination of Griffin’s record as a prosecutor reveals a much less impressive body of experience, with no indication that Griffin ever took a criminal case to trial either as a civilian or a military prosecutor.

Federal court files in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Griffin served as an assistant U.S. attorney, show that from September 2001 to June 2002 Griffin was associated with 30 cases, but none went to trial during that time frame.

On his official Web site, Griffin also claims to have prosecuted 40 criminal cases as an Army lawyer while stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, from September 2005 to May 2006. But Army officials say Ft. Campbell’s records show Griffin only serving as assistant trial counsel on three cases, none of which went to trial.

Griffin didn’t agree to be interviewed about his legal experience, but his spokeswoman Cherith Beck suggested the discrepancy between Griffin’s claim of 40 criminal prosecutions and the Army’s record of three might be explained because Griffin’s number refers to all cases he worked on in some capacity.

“Just wanted to clarify, make sure you had an understanding that prosecuted means it’s a case he handled while he was there; it doesn’t mean that it went to trial necessarily,” Beck told me. “Prosecuted means he handled those cases in one form or another.”

Despite these discrepancies in Griffin’s record, the Bush administration succeeded in getting senior Senate Republicans to promote him as a well-traveled prosecutor with a strong record.

more...

[aquart]

1. Like they cared? Please.

Brainless soulless Bushbots.

[BR_Parkway]

2. Nothing quite says "Rubber Stamp" than admitting to the media

that you simply read off the page Karl faxed you....

[Supersedeas]

5. more Repigs exposed with their clown make-up on -- kisses anyone

[enough]

3. Great that this is coming out. Also see info on Griffin's criminal activities in voter suppression

here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x275652

[tanyev]

4. K & R

[Scriptor Ignotus]

6. hey Tom Cruise never took a case to trial

in the blockbuster hit "A Few Good Men" and his character still won the case. That's good enough for me, let's give Griffin a chance...

[Bucky]

9. The thing is, probably even a screwloose actor like Cruise would be more qualified

than a lying Republican lawbot.

[DCKit]

7. The courrupt stupid leading the willing blind. No mercy.

I went to the Senate internet site a few nights back and checked out the "class II" list, those Senators up for re-election in 2008. Many of our favorites from both sides of the aisle have an upcoming expiration date.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Class=2

At least seven on the list are among the most rabid of the Repukes with a lesser number of Democratic stars up for re-election.

[hootinholler]

8. Um, this is illegal. n/t

[gratuitous]

10. Well, it's not like he had to face a confirmation hearing

Thanks to Sen. Specter's self-writing legislation, Mr. Griffin never had to appear before a Senate committee, never had to have his nomination voted upon by the Senate (and Specter continues to declaim that he didn't have the first inkling that the Bush administration would abuse this power in any way).

I'll believe the Republican Senators were misled when they get with the program and start asking serious questions of the corrupt Bush administration and demanding substantive answers, just like the Democrats. Until that happens, though, all the crocodile tears about being "misled" is just so much window dressing for the base, and a continuing betrayal of the American system of government.