DOJ interfered with Abramoff investigation

[MissWaverly]

Remember they promoted the Chief Prosecutor off the case. We should be looking at any
personnel changes during major criminal investigations, not just the "firings."

But like Orin Hatch says there is no "evidence" that the DOJ tried to interfere with an investigation. Nothing to see here folks, move along.

The investigation into Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist, took a provocative new turn Thursday when the Justice Department said the chief prosecutor in the inquiry would step down next week because he had been nominated to a federal judgeship by President Bush.

The prosecutor, Noel Hillman, is chief of the department's Office of Public Integrity, and the move ends his involvement in an investigation that has reached into the administration as well as into the top ranks of the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/01/27/MNGCNGU1J01.DTL

[Swede]

1. This shit never ends.

Or should I say shitstorm?

[MissWaverly]

2. we are not asking for much, just judicial process

But this administration has made the DOJ into a mockery of justice and our rule of law.

[solara]

3. Yes. I am sure Sen.Leahy has already connected these dots...

If he hasn't, he soon will... recommending this..


:kick:



INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT INCARCERATE :patriot:

[MissWaverly]

4. I hope that he has, because if it's not interference to remove

the Chief Prosecutor on a case of this importance, I don't know what is.

[solara]

23. I totally agree with you

But I was watching Leahy on MTP, and while Hatch was nearly hysterical saying there is "NO Evidence", Leahy just held his silence with a small smile. He is too smart to argue in public and engage in a shouting match with Hatch. He is playing this very close to the vest.

I think Leahy is building a killer case the way a real prosecutor would and it wouldn't make sense to show his hand too soon, especially to Hatch, who will scramble to spin anything the committee discovers before the hearings if he can.

Here on DU there are several threads connecting the DoJ to Abramoff, to the RNC email system and to the WH and etc. If WE connect the dots, don't doubt that Leahy will.

Keep the Faith :hi:


INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT INCARCERATE :patriot:

[MissWaverly]

25. Thank you, I too saw his smile

and Leahy also did not directly answer about Hatch being confirmed as Attorney General.

:-)

[solara]

28. Gahhhh surely the idea of Orrin being nominated for AG was not serious! nt

[MissWaverly]

29. Leahy said that Hatch is lobbying for it.

[solara]

32. I didn't hear that.. damn...What a travesty that would be. nt

[MissWaverly]

34. don't think it will happen

even Arlen Specter is angry about what has been going on at the DOJ. The Republicans want
this scandal off the front page. They are not going to back an apologist over this one.

[malaise]

5. Truth will out

Some of the cornered rats jumping ship will soon squeal for food.

[MissWaverly]

6. What I fail to understand is how this went on for so long

Not all of the DOJ employees are political appointments, they know that the success of their
cases depends on their credibility. What did they think the long term impact of this
would be?

[MissWaverly]

26. no, I think they will have their lawyers on speed dial

unfortunately, I think many of these individuals will be adrift after they leave their
current positions.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. And they arrogantly continue the same modus operandi in the face of

being investigated.

[MissWaverly]

9. not only continue, they directly intervene

to either cause the investigation to end like it did in Guam in 2002, or to be set aside
like the rendition of foreign nationals due to "national security" or to be hampered
by personnel changes or they refuse to provide required information.

[hootinholler]

33. I think the word is Obstruct, not intervene...

Obstruction is a crime. Intervention is not and a good thing. We need an intervention at the JustUs Department. THat's what Leahy et al are working on.

-Hoot

[MissWaverly]

35. You have nailed it HOOT, it is an OBSTRUCTION of Justice

[kiteinthewind]

8. Just another crack in the dam that is keeping this administration in office. Recommend.

:kick:

[MissWaverly]

10. How is it possible to say no evidence of wrongdoing?

If they are trying to shut down an investigation then it is obstruction of justice.

[kiteinthewind]

12. It's possible for them to say it bc they have an 'R' after their name. SOP.

:patriot:

[MissWaverly]

18. we have come to a dangerous point in our government

We can't govern by politics, the government was designed to be of the people, for the people, by the people and for the common 'good'.

[kiteinthewind]

20. Agree. And as long as corporations like Diebold and ES&S control our elections

and we have to rely on faith-based voting, we will never get it back. The keystone of our democratic process rests on us being able to choose who represents us.
:patriot:

[MissWaverly]

24. Diebold is talking about moving their HQ to Hungary

don't look for them to continue in their voting machines operation.

[kiteinthewind]

27. Good. Hungary can have 'em. I want handcounted paper ballots. Period.

:toast:

[MissWaverly]

30. I can't see how they can remain in vote bizz

and who would want it, it's an albatross.

[MADem]

11. Oh, yeah...shocked, I tell ya, shocked....!!!

[MissWaverly]

13. how about taking the "Fifth" when asked to appear

and Hatch defended this, he rationalizes that there would be too much bias, there
are an equal number of republicans and democrats that would be asking questions. How could
it be biased? All people in public service are beholden to the American people and should
be accountable in matters of wrongdoing.

[MADem]

17. Given the coffee reference, maybe he meant taking this fifth:

[MissWaverly]

19. tempest in a "coffee pot"

I think he was nervous, and he should be. It's time that they lived up to their sworn
duties as elected officials and not party faithful.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

42. and how have this weasel screamed if the Clinton Admin had done it, too?

what a piece of shit. With senators like him, no wonder our country is in such dire straits.

[Justice Is Comin]

14. Combine that with the stealth removal of

Alice Fischer from the trail and then conveniently slide her into the DOJ where Gonzalez could keep an eye on her and you have the perfect political Brinks robbery.

[hang a left]

15. This happened about a year ago I think

We were raising hell about it. I mentioned in a DOJgate thread last week or so. I couldn't remember where he went. I thought he went the way of Comey. Now this post reminded me he received a judgeship. So many outrages not enough brain cells.

[MissWaverly]

21. it's hard to keep track but here are 2 talking points

What happened with Tom DeLay's trial in Texas?

Why has there not been more forthcoming on the Abramoff investigation, so far, only a
small handful have been tried.

[UTUSN]

16. K&R big five-0!!1 n/t

[MissWaverly]

22. Thanks for getting this out where people will see it

I think it's an important point to be made: there has been interference by the DOJ in
criminal investigations.

[EVDebs]

31. The CIA and GOP money

"May threaten others in Congressand the CIA" !!!!! LOL, this isn't real hard for the M$M to figure out yet they keep dancing around with tangents...The media takes the fifth too, it seems. Op Mockingbird/OpCHAOS were all domestic CIA ops. How'd they get paid for...?

""It's all part of a growing ongoing investigation into corruption in defense and intelligence contracts, which already has sent former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham to prison and, legal sources say, may threaten others in Congress and the CIA.

FBI probes Watergate prostitution allegations
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12634250/

[MissWaverly]

37. yes, and include Blackwater in there too

Bush was spending 70 million for Blackwater troops after Katrina, and people are still homeless.

[EVDebs]

39. GOP pissed on Dems for 'pork' in this appropriation bill...but ignore $2.3 TRILLION DOD

"According to some estimates we cannot track $2.3 trillion in transactions," Rumsfeld admitted.

$2.3 trillion — that's $8,000 for every man, woman and child in America. To understand how the Pentagon can lose track of trillions, consider the case of one military accountant who tried to find out what happened to a mere $300 million.

"We know it's gone. But we don't know what they spent it on," said Jim Minnery, Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

War on waste
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/29/eveningnews/main325985.shtml

I've got a clue for Minnery...read Lisa Myers article and follow the cookie crumbs to CIA/GOP money :) (see link, post 31)

This is the MOTHER OF ALL SCANDALS !!!!!

[MissWaverly]

40. yes, the mother of all scandals

111 million has been paid to Blackwater to hire their mercenaries since Bush has been in
power.

[hootinholler]

36. Thanks for that reminder!

Another one for my file.

-Hoot

[MissWaverly]

38. You are welcome

There has been so much going on that we have to have recaps now and then.

[WillyT]

41. K & R !!!

:kick:

[autorank]

43. K&R You go Miss Waverly.

No proof. Doesn't Orin Hatch read his own Hatch Act;)

[MissWaverly]

44. good pun

But it is true, the government cannot tie itself to politics becuz it would never serve the
people. That is why people have to sign that they will be ethical, that they won't serve
private interests while in public office and that they will not leak confidential material.