Did the Justice Department stifle the New Hampshire phone jamming investigation?

[kpete]

Breaking: US Attorney scandal and NH phone-jamming

Dems: GOP Phone Jamming Case Stalled, Mishandled
By Paul Kiel - March 21, 2007, 4:59 PM

We reported earlier that people were asking questions about the Justice Department's handling of the Jack Abramoff investigation. Now New Hampshire Democrats are raising questions about another DoJ investigation into Republican wrongdoing -- the New Hampshire phone jamming case.

In a detailed, 10-page letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) signed by Kathleen Sullivan, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, and Paul Twomey, a lawyer for the Democrats, they argue that the investigation, which targeted prominent operatives in the Republican Party, was stalled and mishandled.

On Election Day in 2002, Republicans schemed to jam the phone banks for Democratic get out the vote efforts. Two Republicans involved in the plan pled guilty, and James Tobin, formerly the New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee, was convicted for his role. The case took years to play out; the first guilty pleas in the case were not until the summer of 2004, and Tobin was not indicted until after the 2004 election.

One of the reasons the investigation was stalled, Democrats argue, is that "all decisions had to be reviewed by the Attorney General himself" -- first John Ashcroft and then Alberto Gonzales. To back up that claim, the Democrats say that lawyers working on the case were told by prosecutors that delays in the case were due to the extreme difficulty in obtaining authorization from higher levels at DOJ for any and all actions in the case.

more at:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002839.php

[williesgirl]

1. k&r - the list just keeps growing with these bastards

[loudsue]

2. K & R. Kpete, thanks so much for keeping us posted.

I'm absolutely amazed at how many DUers don't understand what the bruhaha is about: there are too many people I've seen posting on other threads who are listening to the mainstream media, and don't realize that people in the justice department and the white house, at the highest levels, are guilty of OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. Many people think this is just a power play, or retaliation by the Dems in congress, which is what the media WANTS people to believe.

Thanks so much for all you do! :applause:

:kick::kick::kick: