Leahy: Cheney Told GOP-Led Congress It Was ‘Not Allowed To Issue Subpoenas’

[Canuckistanian]

Leahy said that the administration’s stonewalling amounted to “contempt of the valid order of the Congress,” and pointed out that these subpoenas were passed by broad bipartisan votes. In fact, the Senate Judiciary Committee in the conservative-led 109th Congress, chaired by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) also attempted to ask questions about the program’s legal justifications. But Vice President Cheney personally barred him from issuing subpoenas:

In fact, we were about to issue subpoenas then and one of the senators came to our meeting and said that the vice president had met with the Republican senators and told them they were not allowed to issue subpoenas.

Not quite sure that’s my understanding of the separation of powers, but it seemed to work at that time.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/20/cheney-leahy-subpoena/

[quiet.american]

1. Next question: Why is Cheney permitted such power, that goes against the laws of the country? n/t

[frogcycle]

3. well he's not "permitted"

but the pug senators acceded to unconstitutional meddling and abdicated their duty to uphold the Constitution due to words uttered by someone with absolutely no authority over them but whom they knew had "clout" in their party. Just another in a seemingly infinitely long list of ALL pugs being complicit in politicizing the government.

[quiet.american]

5. Exactly -- for all intents and purposes -- permitted.

And it's still going on. Why is the Senate and Congress terrified to hold that sick, twisted old man accountable.

[frogcycle]

6. "whom they knew had "clout" in their party" n/t

that and perhaps such things as anthrax shipments, plane crashes, scandals exposed, etc.

[quiet.american]

9. "...clout" still doesn't get it done as they are now no longer the majority in power.

But why such silence at the time on the part of Dem senators about this very issue. And why such slllooooowwwww co-sponsorship of the current House bill to impeach Cheney. (These are 80% rhetorical questions btw. :)

[Enrique]

8. the power rests in Cheney's new branch of government

[bluestateguy]

2. I'm wondering, did the Clinton Administration ever defy a congressional subpoena?

They did defy and delay subpoenas issued by Ken Starr's office, but that was not a congressional investigation, and when the courts ruled against them, they promptly complied.

Anyone know?

[MissWaverly]

4. Clinton advisors who testified before Congress

Clinton Advisors Who Gave Testimony Before Congress
. Sandy Berger
. Lloyd Cutler
. W. Neil Eggleston
. Lisa Caputo
. Mark Gearan
. Harold Ickes
. Bruce Lindsey
. John Podesta
. Clifford Sloan
. George Stephanopoulos
. Margaret Williams
. Joel Klein
. Thomas McLarty
. Beth Nolan
. Deborah Gorham
. Carolyn Huber
. Evelyn Lieberman
. Capricia Marshall
. Bobby J. Nash
. Stephen Neuwith
. John Quinn
. Jane Sherburne
. Patti Solis
. Patsy Thomasson
. Charles Easley
. Lanny Breuer
. Cheryl Mills
. Dimitri Nionakis
. Charles Ruff
. Nancy Heinreich

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/the-times-misleads-on-pro_b_43911.html

[Dr Fate]

7. Sounds like abuse of process. (Misdeamenaor?) and a lie (High crimes?)

Not that anyone will notice.

[Elidor]

10. Proof that Arlen Specter is Cheney's bitch

I've long known he was a two-faced worm, but I truly never plumbed the depths of his worthlessness to his own constituents. Cheney says "No. Not for you," and he just rolls over like a puppy dog and begs for a treat. What a sad excuse for a man, for a legislator, for a stateman. He's a two-dollar whore.

Interesting that Leahy just dropped that on him in public. There's some real strain between them for him to do that.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Well, Leahy didn't mention Arlen by name

But, you're right, this was a slap in Specter's face.