By Richard B. Schmitt, Los Angeles Times
In a broadly worded legal opinion, the Justice Department has concluded that President Bush’s former top lawyer, and possibly other senior White House officials, can ignore subpoenas from Congress to testify about the U.S. attorneys affair.
The three-page opinion raises questions about whether the Justice Department would prosecute senior administration officials if Congress voted to hold them in contempt for not cooperating with the investigation into the firing last year of eight top prosecutors.
The opinion was prepared this week by the department’s Office of Legal Counsel, in response to questions from former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers, who was subpoenaed to testify Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee. Miers told the panel in a letter faxed Tuesday night that she would not be appearing, citing the Justice memo and advice from the White House.
Under the law, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia decides whether to pursue contempt of Congress cases. While that official can exercise independent judgment, some legal experts said it might be hard to ignore the opinion from the legal counsel office, whose decisions are often viewed as controlling throughout the federal government.
Others said that, as an alternative, lawmakers might seek the appointment of an independent special counsel to investigate any contempt charges.
July 4, 2007
A Patriot’s Message
The hammer falls on the Constitution of the United States of America. Our freedom and Democracy, our sovereignty as a nation is coming to an end.
The politically appointed neoconservatives in Justice sneer at Habeas Corpus; Geneva Convention; worker, consumer, investor and environment protection; education; affirmative action; individual rights and “entitlements†like Social Security and health care.
The corporate neo-con conspirators (Establishment) have their own agenda of a New World Order; W.T.O; N.A.F.T.A; immigration; globalization and “free tradeâ€; military seizure of foreign oil fields; employing a private army of mercenaries and propagandist; “dealing†with Afghanistan Opium drug lords harboring Osama Bin Laden and financing Al Qaeda.
The ideal corporate model is “Communism†where individual freedom and democracy are mute. The board of directors rule. The corporate neo-cons hate our regulatory government, Constitution and Individual Rights.
Our Federal Government is purposely bankrupt by war/trade debt and the ideal corporate nation, China, are carrying trillions of dollars of our debt. Communist China and their junior corporate American partner’s technically own theâ€U.S.A†resulting in “Globalization†and loss of sovereignty. Mission accomplished. The surge strategy is not to win the war but to pump oil and further indebt U.S.A to Communist China. Patriots, sign on! Impeach Bush, Cheney and nullify their Supreme Court appointments!
Lawrence Baker