Leahy On Report: Schlozman Lied To Me

[babylonsister]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/leahy_on_report_schlozman_lied_to_me.php

Leahy On Report: Schlozman Lied To Me
By Zachary Roth - January 13, 2009, 10:44AM


Pat Leahy, the chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, just put out the following statement on the DOJ report into politicized hiring:

Today's report confirms some of our worst fears about the Bush administration's political corruption of the Justice Department. Not only did senior Republican appointees violate the law in hiring based on politics in the Civil Rights Division, they also lied about it when called to explain themselves to Congress.

I am particularly disturbed about the findings that a senior Justice Department appointee, Bradley Schlozmann, made false statements under oath when appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Lying to Congress undermines the very core of our constitutional principles and blunts the American people's right to open and transparent government. Not only did he lie to me and the Committee, but he then refused to cooperate with Justice Department's internal oversight offices' investigation into illegal hiring practices in the Department's Civil Rights Division. The clear determination that he broke the law corrodes our trust in our system of justice and in the nation's top law enforcement agency. His actions in fact undermine the very mission of the Department's Civil Rights Division, which is charged with enforcing federal law prohibiting discrimination.

A strong and independent Civil Rights Division has long been crucial to the enforcement of our precious civil rights laws, and experienced and committed career attorneys have always been the heart and soul of that Division. Contrary to those traditions, however, this report details troubling revelations of political appointees who marginalize and force out career lawyers because of ideology, and, corrupt the hiring process for career positions. It should come as no surprise that the result, and of course the intent, of this political makeover of the Civil Rights Division has been a dismal civil rights enforcement record.

This report is just one of the final chapters in the regrettable legacy of the Bush administration at Main Justice, and it reinforces the need for new leadership. Now more than ever, it is necessary to confirm a new team to lead the Justice Department, starting with Attorney General designee Eric Holder.

[riderinthestorm]

1. Ooooohhh! A strongly worded letter! Terrifying! nt

[cali]

4. seriously, what do you want him to do? put a gun to the guy's head?

He can't prosecute him. He can't do anything but issue subpoenas and write strongly worded letters.

[riderinthestorm]

8. What Schlozman did is a crime. Leahy does have recourse here. nt

[cali]

9. it's not up to Leahy. he can't prosecute him. That's up to the Justice Department.

What recourse do you think Leahy has?

[riderinthestorm]

12. I was under the impression that Congress did have authority to prosecute

people for lying under oath. I know it's difficult and arcane but possible. And the outrageous and extraordinary lying by Bush Admin officials over and over again to Congress means it's time to air out all the powers of the Congress to regain some oversight control as is their responsibility.

Am I wrong on this?

If it's possible, I believe Leahy and other Congresspeople should perform their duty to ensure this doesn't happen in the future. If Schlozman gets away with such blatent lying, I'm fairly sure that Congress will never again be effective as a method of open government whereby govt officials are held to account for their actions. Everybody would lie then. There wouldn't be any consequences. Why would anyone even care to tell the truth under oath since they could obviously get away with it?

[Winterblues]

13. Any American can file a Criminal complaint

It is then up to the Authorities to either follow up or drop it..

[MiniMe]

15. There will be a new justice department soon

We will see if they bring it back up.

[montanacowboy]

2. And so?

no prosecution, so what? ends up like everything else in the criminal enterprise

another ho hum

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. Late Update: Indeed, DOJ did decline to prosecute Scholzman. From the report:

Interestingly, the report is dated July 2, 2008, but was only released today. I'm speculating here, but I suspect that's because the findings were referred to DOJ for possible prosecution of Schlozman. We're trying to nail down now whether that explains the delay in releasing the report - and whether that means DOJ has declined to prosecute Schlozman for lying to Congress.




Late Update: Indeed, DOJ did decline to prosecute Scholzman. From the report:

We referred the findings from our investigation to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia in March 2008. We completed this written report of investigation in July 2008.
The U.S. Attorney's Office informed us on January 9, 2009, of its decision to decline prosecution of Schlozman. The Interim U.S. Attorney, Jeffrey Taylor, was recused from the matter and the decision.

We are now releasing our July 2008 report of investigation.


http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/01/doj_ig_takes_down_schlozman.php

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. He needs to be disbarred

Our local blogs are buzzing. Even the GOPers are pissed about Schlozman.

Just came out in our paper that the DOJ decided not to charge him with a crime.

In other words, if a president lies about sex, he is impeached. But a US attorney lies under oath and nothing happens.

[babylonsister]

7. That sounds like a good solution; disbar the bastid. He can go

try to find work elsewhere.

[watrwefitinfor]

5. Damn good thing

Schlozman didn't do this back in the day, when it was illegal to lie to Congress.

Or deny Civil Rights to people.
Or obstruct justice...

Wat

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Lying to Congress is a federal Crime

Book him Dano

If you let him get away with it then your hearings mean nothing.

[zbdent]

14. didn't you get the memo from Mannthrax Coultercaust?

perjury is a feeble, pissy little offense not worth putting 70 million dollars into prosecuting someone on ...

[Aristus]

11. "Bradleee Schhhlozzmannnn!!!"

I miss Jim Ward's Jerry Lewis-like take on this guy... B-)