Leahy: "THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THEY ARE IN CONTEMPT OF THE VALID ORDER OF THE CONGRESS"

[kpete]

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

Today in a press briefing, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) revealed that the White House had missed its 2:30 PM deadline to turn over documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding legal justifications for the National Security Agency’s eavesdropping program. The Committee had already pushed back the original July 18 deadline twice after the White House requested more time.

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.

More From the Transcript:

QUESTION: What is your next step to ensure this? What’s your next step?

LEAHY: Well, I had hoped that by now they would have answered. They haven’t. When the Senate comes back in the session, I’ll bring it up before the committee. I prefer cooperation to contempt. Right now, there’s no question that they are in contempt of the valid order of the Congress.

Video, Complete Transcript and More at:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/20/cheney-leahy-subpoena/

[maxsolomon]

1. chimpeach!

how much more of this shit are you going to take, congress? they're LAUGHING at you.

[tridim]

2. Leahy gets it

This is the most blatant and obvious disregard for separation of powers I've ever seen.

It's all going to explode in September.

[helderheid]

4. The better fucking DO something and quick before this admin takes it up a notch and declares martial

law!

[snappyturtle]

17. I agree with you. Heaven forbid Reid would call a special session.

He can do that, can't he? :shrug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Indeed he does

And my impression is he's at his ropes end with it all.

[panader0]

3. Please Leahy- issue contempt charges NOW!!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. He can't do it alone

He's bringing the issue before the judiciary committee when they reconvene. Assuming they agree with contempt, which they should, it then goes to the floor for approval.


Frankly, if they go for statutory contempt, even if they can get it approved, I expect the speed of progress to be reminiscent to wading through waist high mud.

If I had a choice I'd go for inherent contempt, but for some reason I don't expect to see that taking place.

[The Stranger]

7. Wake up The Nancy.

Wake up The Nancy.

[Supersedeas]

14. that's funny -- she's awake already

[The Stranger]

21. Apparently not, given the avalanche of abuses by the executive.

The Nancy slumbers, The Republic dies.

Awaken The Nancy.

[Supersedeas]

24. Oh, I think sleepiness is hardly an excuse for inactivity at this point

It is way past the Nancy's waky-waky time.

[partylessinOhio]

8. Well, now what?

The Democrats have no plan. That is the mantra the Repugs have used repeatedly against the Democrats. It seems to be true.

* and Chee-nee do anything they feel like doing and nobody from the Democrats will stand up and take action. Oh, they will throw up a hearing here and there but nothing of any consequence comes out of them.

Face it. We are in times of Constitutional crisis but what did Congress do? They took a powder and went on vacation. But before they left they gave the CrisisMaster more power to wiretap and spy on Americans.

If we hope to take any action - Madame Squeaker and SloMo Harry have got to go.

:thumbsdown:

[RogueBandit]

9. Now the real test

Well, they were polite and waited and gave extensions.

Now what are they going to do? Not only was this a test for Bush, this is now a test of the Dems. If they don't take action that makes a difference they are just a crooked as the rest. It's time for the candidates to take a stand as well.

The candidate for president who stands up and calls for contempt charges gets my vote...I don't care who it is (favoring John Edwards at this time only because Kuchinich is so far behind).

[whistle]

10. Is this all games-men-ship between Leahy's committee and the White House?

...If that is what is going on, then this will go back and forth like a tennis match until one side or the other begins to fire rocket charged serves. So far, neither Leahy or the other congressional democrats are showing that kind of energy. The spectator voters will sooner or later lose interest :wtf:

[Disturbed]

11. Regular Contempt of Congress is useless.

This only ends up in the Courts & slowly goes through the system. It may take more than a year.

Inherent Contempt is the only valid solution. Lay that on Josh Bolton, Ms. Meirs & Rove.

If this is not done the Congress is neutered.

[whistle]

13. Can you explain the difference from both a legal and congressional standpoint?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. This article does a decent job of covering the basics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/26/AR2007072602153.html?hpid=topnews

And this gives further information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. Excellet point

I agree. If they go the route of statutory contempt it effectively puts the breaks on any progress that could possibly be made in the foreseeable future. This is too vital of an issue to wait that long for a resolution to begin.

All things taken into consideration inherent contempt appears to be the only viable choice.

The very fact that the Admin has pushed it to this point leaves me thinking that they don't expect inherent contempt to be an considered for some reason. I also don't think they really care if statutory contempt charges are brought. If anything it gives them enough time to continue down the path they've created without further probing into their illegal activities until they're out of office.

[whistle]

20. Yet the article suggests about inherent contempt...

...<snip> But Democrats have shown no appetite for the process, which has not been used since 1935. As the CRS report noted, "It became too cumbersome and time consuming to try contemptuous behavior on the floor."...<end>

So damned if they do and damned if they don't! The criminal activity of this administration continues to go unchallenged for fear of political consequences and the wrath of public impatience and loss of interest with elections looming. When the other side displays contempt at every juncture what is the option except to fight them on the campaign trail? Unless like the republicans did against Bill Clinton, the democrats use the court system and tens of thousands of lawyer billing hours to wear them out financially, which can't be done either.

I'm getting frustrated and really pissed at the impotence of the whole justice and legislative process against the executive and the forces the executive is able to apply. As Josef Stalin commented about resistance from the catholic church to Soviet oppression, "Where are the Pope's armies?". I think Bush has the same contempt against the American people.

[AtomicKitten]

12. Chimpeach!

[eridani]

18. Fine. Now WTF does he plan on DOING about it? n/t

[Solly Mack]

19. Yeah..so...do something about it

[bdamomma]

22. it is way past the time to slap these guys down now

or we will see more and more abuse from this vile regime we have in DC, they need to be challenged!!!!!! *co like spoiled rotten children, they need to be slapped down.

[mmonk]

23. Nothing new.

And nothing will be done about it.

[spanone]

25. Hey Pat, listen to YOUR words....'they are in contempt'

fuck me, what will it take.