Time for a major bust. Read this law--is there anyone you can think of that might be in violation?

[DFW]

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access


January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]



TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PART I--CRIMES

CHAPTER 47--FRAUD AND FALSE STATEMENTS

Sec. 1001. Statements or entries generally

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any
matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or
judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and
willfully--
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or
device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent
statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same
to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement
or entry;

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or
both.


Fined or jailed for up to five years? If violations of this law were to be
prosecuted,The present and former members of the Bush administration could
either pay off the national debt or fill the nation's correctional institutions
to capacity under this statue. Time to press charges before they all become
citizens of Dubai!

[MADem]

1. Jurisdiction of the Executive branch--does that include the Chief Executive, or

does he get to MAKE those rules? And then, there's that pesky loophole right outta the gate "Except as otherwise provided in this section..."

The Wee Cowboy has a BIG Pardon Pen too--ask Scooter!

[DFW]

2. Here's the "except as provided:"

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial
proceeding, or that party's counsel, for statements, representations,
writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or
magistrate in that proceeding.
(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the
legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to--
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a
matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel
or employment practices, or support services, or a document required
by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any
office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the
authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of
the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or
Senate.

They can try to wiggle out of it, but I think any savvy head of a Judiciary
Committee would shoot that down in short order. Any Attorney General refusing
to pursue a complaint under the existing statutes would have to be a very
skillful jurist in his own right, or face an Obstruction charge, as did John
Mitchell, Nixon's AG, who did time for being part of the problem instead of
part of the solution. His fate has to loom large in the memory of any AG. I
think what happened to him played no small part in Gonzo's decision to git
while the gittin was good.

[MADem]

3. I am guessing Gonzo's pardon has already been prepared, along with Karl's.

Just in case...

[DFW]

4. I'm sure they have been, but nonetheless

The very fact that such a pardon would be needed in the first place
would be enough to convict them in the public eye. An excepttion must be
made, of course, for the 26%ers, who will think that any charges brought
against any Republican are null and void by virtue of their having belonged
to the right (multiple interpretations, there) party, much the way that the
Soviets justified any atrocity committed by an ally as being necessary for
the advancement of "socialism," a cause for which the Soviet elite cared no
more than our Republicans do.

[MADem]

6. The Apple Doesn't Fall Far

Cap Weinberger tells us, anyway.

[rzemanfl]

5. These folks are too fucking lazy and arrogant to to the shredding,

altering and destruction work themselves, a secretary, office boy or janitor is going to bring them down someday.