TIME: Congress considering giving immunity to Monica Goodling

[sabra]

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1609898,00.html

Immunity for a Key Gonzales Aide?

Will Congress grant Monica Goodling immunity from prosecution in order to compel her to testify about the Bush Administration's firing late last year of eight U.S. Attorneys?

Sources tell TIME that discussions are under way on Capitol Hill about whether to offer just such a deal to the key former aide to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The discussions — still largely informal — follow Goodling's assertion of her Fifth Amendment privilege to refuse to testify about her role in the controversial firings. Were Goodling to receive some form of immunity, she could be legally compelled to testify or risk facing charges of contempt of Congress.

No decision to seek immunity for Goodling has yet been made. But the question of immunity may be inevitable, because of what some observers see as an end-game for Gonzales, who is scheduled to deliver crucial testimony on his role in the firings next Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democrats have stressed that even if Gonzales resigns, their investigation into the dismissal of the U.S. attorneys will continue. In that event, the investigation's focus would likely shift to the role of the White House in the firings, and Goodling's contacts with the office of former White House counsel Harriet Miers and of top political advisor Karl Rove might be crucially important.

In fact, Goodling's testimony could prove more important than ever, given today's White House acknowledgement that numerous e-mails to and from key White House staff may have been lost or deleted in a violation of internal rules. What those messages might prove is uncertain, but many apparently involve Karl Rove, who reportedly used e-mail accounts as well as a Blackberry provided by the Republican National Committee for much of his computer traffic.

[senseandsensibility]

1. Okay, this could be important...

Just saying...

[musiclawyer]

6. Very important and not unexpected

The only reason her lawyers would go public with the 5th so soon is because they know crimes were committed, and that their client was in deep, deep enough to turn state's evidence so to speak, but most importantly, deep enough to be NECESSARY for the prosecution. They knew the paper trail was compromised. She probably had a hand in it. Now she can walk k away without jail time.

[BlueManDude]

2. She strikes me as too loyal a RW zealot to really give up the goods

I say no.

[Bjorn Against]

24. I have a feeling they already have the goods, and they just need her to back up their case...

If she lies under oath her immunity deal will do her no good and they can send her directly to jail. I say give her immunity, she is not the main target but she could do a lot to build the case against the main targets.

[mmonk]

3. Pig in a poke?

[BuyingThyme]

4. They first have to figure out if she's capable of taking credit for the crimes.

[Spazito]

5. I hope they decide to do so....

There is no question in my mind her testimony would be VERY damaging to a whole host of people not just Rove/Gonzales/Miers.

[myrna minx]

8. She is the connecting bridge, imho.

If she received immunity, she cannot refuse to testify, if I understand correctly. I think she could be the spark to the Hindenburg so to speak.

[Spazito]

11. I agree, she was the key conduit between the WH and the DOJ

I suspect they will wait on the decision re immunity until they have more of the documents they have just subpoenaed, some of which are to be in a document dump that is to occur late today or tomorrow.

[myrna minx]

29. I can't wait for that document dump, but it looks

like the WH is trying to force a Constitutional crisis.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x642677

[RedEarth]

7. We'll find out real quick how much of a Christian she really is.............

[David Zephyr]

9. Ah, what a loverly story this is all turning to be. Shakespeare are you watching?

What a wonderful world this is.

[Ilsa]

10. Great idea, but Leahy needs to ...

... dress up like Jesus when he delivers the offer, or she won't think it's the right thing to do. OR maybe someoe could install some speakers in her apartment with a soft male voice that says mentions "accept...accept...accept".

[Oilwellian]

13. ROFL

Your post made a great visual to hold on to. Where is George Burns when you need him? :D

[Ilsa]

14. You're welcome! (It is Leahy, right? So many investigations are

going on that I can keep them all straight. TGF Investigations!)

[IChing]

15. ROLF

[Tinksrival]

19. HA!Ha!

<Mental Image> Somebody photoshop that PLEASE!!!

Oh my god that was a good one! :rofl:

[cascadiance]

22. Deal her in this poker game and have her play for her immunity...

[AuntPatsy]

12. Hmmm, as hard as it is to take that some quitly individuals will walk

sometimes we have to look at the bigger picture, hope she takes them up if true.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

16. i'd like to see her in front of the committee pleading the 5th

for every question asked her. then offer immunity.

[ThomWV]

17. Fine with me - but if she perjures herself toss the key

Put her under the jail if she so much as flinches or disguise a single fact.

[dogday]

18. As long as she gives it up

and it leads to all the deception and lies, good for them...

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. I hope the little bitch suffered a panic attack or two while she waited

for the Congress to make the offer.

[bunny planet]

21. And her name is Monica

how schadenfreudy is that?

[Connonym]

25. schadenfreudy -- I love it! n/t

[lovuian]

23. If they want Gonzales they will give her immunity

and believe me they want Gonzales

His time has come and he maybe the first Attorney general to go to prison

I hope it was worth it for King Bush

[TheTimmer]

27. He won't be

John Mitchell was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction, and perjury in 1975. He served 19 months of a 2 1/2 to 8 year sentence.

[Pachamama]

26. Well, I guess the world will find out if Monica Goodling is a good Christian, loyal to the Lord and

the Bible, or if her loyalties are to Bush and being a good Bushie....

:eyes:

[tavalon]

28. Oh yes!

This will be fun.

[Rose Siding]

30. She's "the jugular that connects DOJ and the White House"

"Monica Goodling is the jugular that connects DOJ and the White House on this issue," says Bruce Fein, a well-known conservative lawyer and former senior official in the Reagan Justice Dept. "The obvious possibility that she might be given a grant of immunity will put the fear of God into other witnesses and encourage their truth telling."

Happy dancing here.