Mukasey cuts off White House access to information on probes

[L. Coyote]

Mukasey cuts off White House access to information on probes
By Marisa Taylor - McClatchy - Dec 19, 2007 - http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/23446.html


WASHINGTON — Attorney General Michael Mukasey Wednesday reversed a controversial Bush administration policy that had allowed numerous White House officials to know about ongoing federal investigations.

In a memo to Justice Department employees, Mukasey said communications about criminal and civil investigations "must be limited."

During his confirmation hearings in October, Mukasey had promised that he'd change the policy after senators said it enabled White House officials to exert improper influence on the Justice Department.

Justice Department officials now will inform the White House about investigations "only where it is important for the performance of the president's duties" and crucial "from a law enforcement perspective," Mukasey said.

The original policy authorized more than 40 Justice Department officials and 400 White House officials to know about ongoing investigations, according to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse ..........

[Patsy Stone]

1. Thanks, Sheldon!

:loveya:

[bleever]

3. He's my favorite "Sheldon".

Recommended.

[Patsy Stone]

7. For me

it was close



But he definitely wins. :patriot:

[bleever]

15. If only our country could elect someone despite him or her having the name

"Whitehouse".

[Patsy Stone]

18. It's a shame.

Because the campaign slogans practically write themselves.

[babylonsister]

2. I hope this is for real; I bet the wh must be fuming! nt

[DemGa]

4. Interesting....nt

[bonito]

12. What you said n/t

[Lex]

5. woot, there it is.

nt

[tekisui]

6. Whitehouse. What a great Senator! What did we do without him?

[blogslut]

8. heehee

I bet that will piss off the old man and his little boy.

[Olney Blue]

9. 400 WH officials knew about ongoing invesigations?

Crap, I didn't know there WERE so many.

[hvn_nbr_2]

10. Yeah, they told everyone who was being investigated. nt

[librechik]

14. teehee!

[paulk]

11. that's a step in the right direction...

[Didereaux]

13. PROOF! show me proof, not more words and memos PROOF! by actions n/t

[L. Coyote]

16. Throw the dog a bone while the tail wags the dog, me thinketh first, but

it can also mean the White House is too often a target of ongoing investigations, and no other choice remains appropriate.

[KoKo]

17. HA! and we could believe this....coming from Mukasey. The stovepipe

will just be hidden from view...but it's still there.

[L. Coyote]

19. Yes, now it is done without creating evidence!! Big difference that. An improvement for Bushco.