Why They Launched a DOJ Investigation into Illegal Domestic Spying

[me b zola]

It just occurred to me why they have launch a DOJ investigation. It will block Congressional hearings surrounding the illegal domestic spying.

Someone, please tell me that I am wrong.

[w13rd0]

1. Ah...

...the "we can't comment on an ongoing investigation" get out of jail card gambit.

You could be right.

[bryant69]

2. They might be legally able to have parallel investigations

but chances are good, even if they can, they wouldn't. The Congress would be pressured to wait until the military finished their investigation before doing their own thing.

So yeah, I hate to say it, but i don't think you are wrong.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[acmavm]

3. And possibly to intimidate anyone else thinking about spilling the

beans on the bush** administration's criminal behavior?

[me b zola]

7. That is always at the forefront of their motivation(s)

[TomInTib]

4. I hope you are wrong. Surely two separate branches of gov't can

undertake parallel investigations/hearings.

But then with this new Constitution we have....

[me b zola]

17. meganmonkey points out that it would not be paralell investigations

One is of the "leak", and the other is of domestic spying.

I hope she is right.

[jody]

5. Remember that congressional hearings on Irangate muddied the waters

for prosecutors.

[meganmonkey]

6. Isn't the DoJ investigation about the "leak" about spying to the NYTimes

rather than the spying itself? Or are they doing 2 investigations?

[William769]

8. I thought the same thing.

:shrug:

[me b zola]

10. You are correct

It is about the "leak" itself, and not about the domestic spying.

I'm worried, though, that they will use their investigation to scuttle any investigation into the criminal spying. It being a holiday week-end, it is doubtful that we will get any feed back from Spector or any others to see if they still intend to go forward.

[ClintonTyree]

16. During their investigation..........

they'll be able to track down and destroy any and all evidence before it can be examined by a REAL investigation. Clean as a whistle, the bush administration is only looking out for our best interests, right? :eyes:

[Catherine Vincent]

9. It is a coincidence that they launched this a few days after it was

revealed that Bush and his admin was spying on Americans.

[me b zola]

12. yes, and a few days after even repubs were calling for an investigation

[warrior1]

11. It's to make bush look butch

[me b zola]

18. LOL

It'll take alot more than investigations to make the idiot look butch.

[The Stranger]

13. How does the identity of the leakers prevent hearings on the program?

Forget the leakers -- call in the heads of the agencies and members of cabinet. Get them on the record. Subpoena the documents. Get an independent prosecutor. Start the heads rolling.

[MN ChimpH8R]

14. Fox appoints self to investigate security breaches at

chicken coop. Move along. Nothing here - certainly there are no chickens.

[shraby]

15. During Iran/Contra they had both,

and congress had given some concessions for testimony. When Ollie North was found guilty, his conviction was overturned because of the immunity that congress had given him.

[me b zola]

19. Interesting

So then there is nothing that automatically shuts down Congressional hearings. I wonder how much strong-arming is going on behind the scenes.

It will be interesting to see who appears on Hardball & in the situation room, and what spin will be going on.

[warbly]

20. it's up to Arlen Specter

to follow through on his promise to investigate and hold hearings through his committee.
i believe the judiciary committee operates wholly independent of the executive, at least on paper.
the DOJ will likely be used as an excuse not to answer questions though.

I actually like Specter, and will take him at his word. He promised to take it up first thing ...

from Arlen's site:
Committee on Appropriations
< appropriations.senate.gov >
- Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies
- Defense
- Homeland Security
- Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- State, Foreign Operations
- Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD & Related Agencies

Committee on the Judiciary, Chairman
< judiciary.senate.gov >
- Administrative Oversight and the Courts
- Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
- Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights
- Corrections and Rehabilitation

Committee on Veterans' Affairs
< veterans.senate.gov >

Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Chairman

------
He carries a lot of weight, and if only a few other R's stand against the death of the Constitution and Reid/Pelosi keep the dems united then things will progress.
What bothers me is the Press is not doing their job on this. The Post and Times have been pretty good, at least having the balls to finally go to print with it, but very little coverage at all elsewhere, as in msnbc and cnn.
when i have seen stories the last few days they talk about a limited program, international calls, and such ... WH talking points more than any real information.

[spindrifter]

21. They've been reading too much

about the Brits and the Official Secrets Act--next they will claim that by Executive Order the Prezidont can bar newspapers from publishing "leaks" upon penalty of sanctions.

[FogerRox]

22. I think you raise a very good point its a way for BUSHCO to control

the process--

something they have been lacking in since KAtrina

[Flabbergasted]

23. Interesting However that this is Judith Miller all over again

Thay ended up with Scooter getting the boot. Who will go down next? Its a double edged sword. The question is whether the leaker will get protection as a whistleblower? Then it gets interesting.....

[me b zola]

24. The difference between Judy Miller and this reporter

is that Judy was comlicit in a crime. The reporter who broke this story was, as you point out, reporting on a whistleblower. They are worlds apart, and Fitzgerald did a pretty good job of explaining the difference in his press conference.

Welcome to DU, Flabbergasted. I'm flabbergasted too. :toast:

[Flabbergasted]

25. True.

I had that thought too. Its still a double edged sword. They don't know what they'll dredge up. The Whistleblower is problably not the only P*****d NSA employee.

[librechik]

26. it won't stop hearings in congress, but

it will give them a chance to say "I CAN'T COMMENT ON AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION"

for all the good it will do them.