Democrats leery of prosecutor

[struggle4progress]

Source: Associated Press

Lawmakers question her independence in the probe of the firings of nine U.S. attorneys.

By Larry Margasak
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - ... Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D., Calif.), who has led the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into the firing of nine prosecutors nearly two years ago, said the Justice Department might interfere with the career prosecutor who will conduct the probe.

Nora Dannehy - the acting U.S. attorney in Connecticut and a white-collar-crime specialist - was named this week by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey to continue an inquiry that so far has found incompetent, unethical and possibly criminal conduct surrounding the firings ...

Sanchez raised her concerns as Glenn Fine, the Justice Department's inspector general, was preparing to review the 358-page report documenting the politically inspired firings of at least four of the nine prosecutors ...

Asked by Rep. Robert C. Scott (D., Va.) whether the attorney general could overrule the prosecutor, Fine said, "I will have to leave that for another day." ...



Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20081004_Democrats_leery_of_prosecutor.html

[JDPriestly]

1. The appointment of this prosecutor takes the investigation and

prosecution out of the hands of the next president. This is a typical GOP evasion technique. It's probably all meaningless anyway since Bush has the pardon power. We will probably end up just investigating to establish a verifiable historical record. Even if that is all we can do, that is important. Legislation to prevent future power abuses of this kind is needed.

[tom_paine]

2. No, not legislation -- ARRESTS. Too far gone for anything but that.

In the absence of Bushie arrests, which is a near 100% certainty, even an Obama Imperium only postpones the inevitable.

And one wonders if Obama can repair Humpty Dumpty even to a shadow of it's former self.

[JDPriestly]

4. Remember the Plame whitewash.

This prosecutor is appointed by the Bush administration. She will allow evidence to be suppressed and side with the guilty. We will have no prosecutions of those really responsible. They will pick a scapegoat and declare the real perpetrators to be off limits. That is what Fitzpatrick did with the Palin matter.

[bertman]

3. Is there even one person on the planet who actually thought that Bush regime Special Prosecutor

would be independent??